https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0390-916X
Abstract
Purpose
Treatment adherence is crucial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The device used by the patients for self-injections may influence adherence to methotrexate (MTX) treatment. A MTX-autoinjector has been recently marketed in Europe. This crossover survey compared this MTX-autoinjector (MTX-autoinjector A) and an already existing MTX-autoinjector (MTX-autoinjector B) from the patients’ perspective.
Patients and Methods
A total of 100 patients with moderate to severe RA using MTX-autoinjector A (N=35) or MTX-autoinjector B (N=65) were interviewed by an independent Global Market Research Company. Face-to-face interviews were performed using a computer-assisted personal interview system. Evaluation of the unfamiliar MTX-autoinjector was performed once the patients had received information, seen a demonstration, and performed a virtual testing.
Results
A substantial advantage in favor of the MTX-autoinjector A was found with respect to all surveyed indicators. Respectively, 95% and 55% of the users of MTX-autoinjectors A and B claimed to be very or totally satisfied with their familiar MTX-autoinjector. With respect to several specific characteristics, 91% and 60% of the users of MTX-autoinjectors A and B were very or totally satisfied with their familiar MTX-autoinjector, 29% and 77% found the unfamiliar MTX-autoinjector better, and 26% and 73% were interested in trying the unfamiliar MTX-autoinjector. Injection mode (with no push button) and end-of-injection recognition system (with audible signal) were identified as key features explaining a stronger preference for MTX-autoinjector A.
Conclusion
Even though deserving further studying, these findings are expected to guide clinicians when prescribing or renewing prescription of MTX-autoinjector, in particular in poor or non-compliant patients. In a context of growing interest in shared decision-making, the objective would be to choose with each patient the best suited MTX-autoinjector, and ultimately, to obtain a better treatment adherence.
Abbreviations
DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; MTX, methotrexate; RA, rheumatoid arthritis.
Acknowledgments
The authors want to thank all the patients who participated in the present survey. They also want to thank the members of the advisory board. Finally, they thank Matthieu Chanard and Fabienne Péretz (Abelia Science, Saint-Georges-sur-Baulche, France) for their writing assistance. Advisory board: Anissa Allal (Nordic Group), Yves Morvan (IPSOS Healthcare), Jean-David Zeitoun, MD, PhD.
Disclosure
Survey conducted by IPSOS HealthCare Global Market Research Company and funded by Nordic Group. JDZ reports personal fees from Ipsos, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Ferring, Pierre Fabre, Boehringer Ingelheim, AbbVie, Janssen, and Astra Zeneca, outside the submitted work; being an advisor for several consulting firms in link with pharmaceutical industry (Cepton, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, TBWA, Havas). He also reports speaking fees from manufacturers’ professional association, consulting fees from IQVIA, Ferring, Pierre Fabre, AbbVie, Astra Zeneca, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Johnson & Johnson. He is a personal investor in approximately 20 digital companies, medtech companies or biotech companies, and as a limited partner in an investment fund. He is also a shareholder and advisory board member in several medtech companies. He reports being cofounder and shareholder of Inato, a digital company involved in clinical research and whose customers are pharmaceutical companies. YM is an employee of IPSOS HealthCare and reports non-financial support from IPSOS HealthCare Global Market Research Company and grants from Nordic Group, during the conduct of the study. The authors report no other potential conflicts of interest for this work.