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Improving Patient Satisfaction with Injection Devices in Multiple Sclerosis Improves Adherence
Table 2: Specialist Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Feedback on Their Satisfaction with Specific Design Features of the
Betaject Comfort System (UK data, total n=48)
Design Feature Satisfaction (weighted mean score)
-2 0 2
Totally dissatisfied Neither/nor Totally satisfied
Ease of holding +1.1
Ease of firing +1.4
Withdrawal of needle +1.6
Noise indicating end of injection +1.6
Quiet operation +1.1
Ease of loading +1.0
Table 3: Specialist Multiple Sclerosis Nurse Feedback on Improvements of Specific Design Features of the
Betaject Comfort System Compared with Older Betaject Models (UK data, total n=48)
Design Feature Satisfaction (weighted mean score)
-2 0 2
Totally dissatisfied Neither/nor Totally satisfied
Ease of holding +1.1
Ease of firing +1.4
Withdrawal of needle +1.2
Noise indicating end of injection +1.5
Quiet operation +1.1
Ease of loading +0.9
A further study, BEACON, is currently recruiting patients.
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This study described this difference as reduced pain compared with their older
will address the impact of various factors on adherence to Betaferon injection systems (see Table 1). Patients also linked the new auto-
therapy, focusing on the role of MS nurse support. injector with reduced ISRs: 70% of Spanish respondents said that they
experienced fewer ISRs with the thinner needle, and in Italy 46% of
Impact of New Auto-injector Technology on patients thought (based on personal experience) that the new
Treatment Acceptability injection system would cause fewer ISRs than previous systems (46%
Reducing ISP and ISRs is an important target for optimising commented that they did not have any ISRs). Over one-third of Italian
treatment acceptability and hence adherence. While studies have respondents (35%) said that the new system encouraged better
shown the available IFN-βs to be similar in terms of tolerability and adherence than previous injection systems.
42
AEs,
7,38
the rate of ISRs is more variable depending on the IFN (e.g.
37% with Betaferon versus 8% with Avonex and 85% with Rebif Having an invisible needle was viewed positively by about 90% and
versus 33% with Avonex).
7,33
One study suggests that ISRs may 81% of French and Italian respondents, respectively. The needle
contribute to 12% of IFN-β discontinuations.
33,39–41
Previous studies withdrawal system was also popular with patients: 89% of Spanish
have shown that using auto-injectors can improve treatment and 100% of both Italian and French respondents rated it as
acceptability compared with manual injection.
11,12
New data satisfactory or better.
42
comparing different new Betaferon auto-injectors are now available
from four European surveys (in the UK, France, Italy and Spain). In the Italian survey, 69% of patients considered the new system to be
Patients with MS (in France, Italy and Spain) and specialist MS more practical than previous systems. Practical benefits included
nurses (in the UK) returned consistently positive feedback on a ease of use, ease of remembering operating steps, reliability, comfort,
range of attributes of the new Betaferon injection system, practicality and speed of preparation (‘easier’ or ‘much easier’ to use:
Betaject
®
Comfort, which offers a unique injection technology with 62%; ‘easier’ or ‘much easier’ to remember steps: 59%; ‘more reliable’
automatic withdrawal of the needle. It offers a flexible depth or ‘much more reliable’: 59%; ‘more comfortable’ or ‘much more
adjustment (8mm/10mm/ 12mm) as well as injections with a comfortable’: 74%; ‘more practical’ or ‘much more practical’: 88%;
reduced needle size (27–30G). In addition, a hidden needle system ‘faster’ or ‘much faster’ to prepare: 56%). Most patients also said that
can help to overcome needle phobia, and an audible signal the new adaptor was more comfortable, simpler and more
indicates when the injector can be safely withdrawn.
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manageable than previous systems (88, 80 and 65%, respectively).
Most patients in Italy and Spain (71%) rated Betaject Comfort as less Most Spanish respondents (82%) rated the Betaject Comfort easier to
painful than previous injection systems (see Table 1), while 94% of access and inject different parts of the body, which may encourage
French respondents were either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the injection-site rotation. The Spanish survey also found that patients
level of pain induced by Betaject Comfort. Interestingly, more than rated the new pre-attached needle more (40%) or much more
two-thirds of Italian and Spanish patients (68%) said that they could convenient (30%), while 79% reported that the pre-attached needle
feel a difference using the new, thinner needle, of whom 85% simplified the process.
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