Applicator preferences for subcutaneous biologics in inflammatory bowel disease: influence on patient satisfaction and willingness to switch treatment.

BACKGROUND

Subcutaneous biologics administered with various applicator types are widely used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim was to determine the applicator characteristics most important to patients and to assess whether these factors influence their willingness to switch biologic therapy.

METHODS

This prospective and cross-sectional study included 50 patients with IBD on maintenance treatment with subcutaneous biological drugs (adalimumab, golimumab, and vedolizumab). The patients completed a questionnaire regarding the applicators they were using and were afterwards presented with other applicators in order to fulfill a second questionnaire including questions about the possibility to change the biological drug due to a different applicator.

RESULTS

The click at the end of application was considered as the best characteristic of their applicators in 64% of the patients. The transparent window (30% of patients), the click at the end of application (24%), faster and easier (20%) application were characteristics that were important after seeing other applicators. Patients' satisfaction with their current applicator decreased after seeing other available applicators (P < 0.001). However, 82% would continue to use the same applicator. More than half (52%) would consider changing the current biological drug for a biosimilar due to a different applicator with better characteristics.

CONCLUSION

The type of applicator was determined as important for patients, as they would consider changing it if other applicators were presented to them before the start of therapy. Thus, before choosing a subcutaneous biosimilar it would be reasonable to present all types of applicators to patients to individually select the most suitable one.