Parent preference in Switzerland for easy-to-use attributes of growth hormone injection devices quantified by willingness to pay

Abstract

Sustained treatment adherence, usually over long periods of time, is critical to the success of growth hormone (GH) therapy. However, adherence rates are often poor which may result in suboptimal clinical outcomes. The type of device used by patients to administer their GH can influence adherence. Offering patients a choice of device maximizes the chance of adherence to treatment. Multiple factors will influence a patient’s choice of device, depending on individual priorities. This study evaluated the most preferred features of GH injection devices by parents using a web-based questionnaire and as assessed by their willingness to pay for specific device features. The results show that parents are willing to pay for device features facilitating ease of use.

Keywords::

• adherence
• easy to use
• growth hormone
• injection devices
• willingness to pay

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The study was conducted by Incentive, Denmark. The study was sponsored by Novo Nordisk. M Bøgelund was paid by Novo Nordisk to design and conduct this study. U Meinhardt and U Eiholzer have no conflicts of interest to declare. L Seitz is an employee of Novo Nordisk. M Bøgelund works as a consultant for Novo Nordisk. A-M Kappelgaard is an employee of and shareholder in Novo Nordisk. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Editorial support for this manuscript was provided by Watermeadow Medical and was funded by Novo Nordisk.

Key issues

• Adherence to growth hormone (GH) therapy, as with many chronic medical conditions requiring long-term therapy, is frequently poor.

• Non-adherence to GH therapy undermines clinical outcomes.

• Multiple issues may influence treatment adherence including patient- and product-related factors.

• Developments in GH delivery devices have aimed to simplify administration.

• The range of choice of GH injection devices offers physicians the opportunity to individualize treatment and maximize adherence.

• This study demonstrates that parents prefer device features that are associated with ease of use.

• Providing patients with easy-to-use devices may improve treatment adherence.