Barone Donald A, Singer Barry A, Merkov Lubo, Rametta Mark, Suarez Gustavo
School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, USA.
Missouri Baptist Medical Center, St Louis, MO, USA.
Neurol Ther. 2016 Dec;5(2):155-167. doi: 10.1007/s40120-016-0047-3. Epub 2016 Jun 8.
Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) generally undergo long-term treatment with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). In the US, patients taking glatiramer acetate, interferon beta-1a, or interferon beta-1b, typically use a mechanical autoinjector. Recent survey results have shown that using an electronic autoinjector, such as BETACONNECT™ (Bayer Pharma AG) for interferon beta-1b/Betaseron (Bayer Pharma AG) may reduce injection discomfort and increase patient satisfaction with treatment. The aim of the current survey was to assess patient perceptions of BETACONNECT compared with mechanical autoinjectors using a survey integrated with demonstrations and simulated injections with BETACONNECT.
Patients with MS currently using mechanical autoinjectors for glatiramer acetate/Copaxone (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.), interferon beta-1a/Rebif (EMD Serono Inc.), or interferon beta-1b/Extavia (Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.), participated in a 60-min in-person interview. Patients rated the importance of 18 ideal autoinjector attributes, and the performance of their current autoinjectors across these attributes. BETACONNECT was demonstrated and patients performed simulated injections with BETACONNECT before rating it across the same attributes. Patient overall autoinjector preference was assessed.
Ninety patients completed the survey: 63 were using autoinjectors for Copaxone, 25 for Rebif, and 2 for Extavia. BETACONNECT scored higher than mechanical autoinjectors across all 18 attributes. The top attributes of an ideal autoinjector were the injection process is easy overall, easy to push the button to start the injection, and autoinjector is comfortable to hold during injections. Unique BETACONNECT features most valued by patients were the built-in dwell time, self-check function, greater ability to customize injections, adjustment of injection speed, low injection noise, and automatic needle retraction. Overall, 75 out of 90 patients (83%) expressed a preference for BETACONNECT over their current autoinjector.
BETACONNECT attributes and features were highly rated by patients, compared with both an ideal autoinjector and their current mechanical autoinjectors. These findings suggest that the use of BETACONNECT may increase patient satisfaction and potentially increase overall medication adherence.
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.
多发性硬化症（MS）患者通常需要长期接受疾病修正疗法（DMT）治疗。在美国，服用醋酸格拉替雷、干扰素β-1a或干扰素β-1b的患者通常使用机械自动注射器。最近的调查结果显示，使用电子自动注射器，如用于干扰素β-1b/倍泰龙（拜耳制药公司）的BETACONNECT™（拜耳制药公司），可能会减轻注射不适并提高患者对治疗的满意度。本次调查的目的是通过一项结合了演示和使用BETACONNECT模拟注射的调查，评估患者对BETACONNECT与机械自动注射器的看法。
目前正在使用机械自动注射器注射醋酸格拉替雷/考帕松（美国梯瓦制药公司）、干扰素β-1a/利比（EMD雪兰诺公司）或干扰素β-1b/复迈（诺华制药公司）的MS患者参加了一次60分钟的面对面访谈。患者对18项理想自动注射器属性的重要性以及他们当前自动注射器在这些属性方面的表现进行了评分。展示了BETACONNECT，患者在对其进行相同属性评分之前使用BETACONNECT进行了模拟注射。评估了患者对自动注射器的总体偏好。
90名患者完成了调查：63名正在使用考帕松自动注射器，25名使用利比自动注射器，2名使用复迈自动注射器。在所有18项属性上，BETACONNECT的得分均高于机械自动注射器。理想自动注射器的首要属性是总体注射过程轻松、易于按下按钮开始注射以及注射时手持自动注射器舒适。患者最看重的BETACONNECT独特功能是内置停留时间、自我检查功能、更大的注射定制能力、注射速度调整、低注射噪音和自动针头回缩。总体而言，90名患者中有75名（83%）表示比起他们当前使用的自动注射器，更喜欢BETACONNECT。
与理想自动注射器及其当前使用的机械自动注射器相比，患者对BETACONNECT的属性和功能评价很高。这些发现表明，使用BETACONNECT可能会提高患者满意度，并有可能提高总体药物依从性。
拜耳医疗保健制药公司。
