Abstract
Context
Treatment satisfaction with a loading phase of monthly injections for 3 months followed by a pro-re-nata regimen of ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) remains unclear.
Aims
The aim was to evaluate the treatment satisfaction of persons with nAMD treated with ranibizumab in a real-life setting.
Settings and design
A cross-sectional study was conducted across three eye clinics within the National Health Service in the UK, where treatment is provided free at point of contact.
Materials and methods
A total of 250 patients were selected randomly for the study. Treatment satisfaction was assessed using the Macular Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire. Data were collected on satisfaction of the service provided (Client Service Questionnaire-8) and the patients’ demographic and quality of life and treatment history. Factors governing treatment questionnaire were determined.
Results
The most important factors that determined the satisfaction were the service provided at the clinic (Client Service Questionnaire-8), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), and duration of AMD. Visual acuity changes were rated as less important than one would have expected.
Conclusion
The study result suggested that treatment satisfaction for nAMD was governed by the perception of being reviewed and injected regularly over a long period of time than the actual change in visual acuity from the treatment.
Acknowledgments
This study was funded by Macula Society and Bayer Plc Limited. The research was funded by unrestricted research grant from Macula Society, London and Bayer Plc and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre based at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. SS, RC-N, PH have received a proportion of their funding from the Department of Health’s NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital and University College London, Institute of Ophthalmology. SS, consultancy, payment for lectures/speaker bureaus, and travel support (Novartis, Allergan, Bayer); PH, consultancy and grant support (Novartis, Allergan, Bayer); and BB, consultancy and grant support (Novartis, Allergan, Bayer).
Disclosure
Phil Hykin, Ben Burton and Sobha Sivaprasad have received travel grants, research grants and attended advisory boards of Allergan, Bayer and Novartis. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.