Evaluation of long-acting somatostatin analog injection devices by nurses: a quantitative study

luation of long-acting somatostatin analog injection devices by nurses: a quantitative study Original Research (735) Total Article Views Authors: Adelman DT, Burgess A, Davies PR Published Date December 2012 Volume 2012:5 Pages 103 - 109 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/MDER.S37831 Received: 06 September 2012 Accepted: 01 November 2012 Published: 17 December 2012 Daphne T Adelman,1 Andrea Burgess,2 Philippa R Davies,3 1Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; 2Neuroendocrine Tumor Department, The Christie, Manchester, UK; 3Neuroendocrine Tumor Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK Abstract: The somatostatin analogs (SSAs) lanreotide Autogel/Depot and octreotide long-acting release are used to treat acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors. The present study evaluated opinions on SSA injection devices, including a recently approved lanreotide new device (lanreotide-ND), among nurses in Europe and the USA. Nurses injecting SSAs for at least three patients per year (n = 77) were interviewed regarding SSA devices. Device attributes were rated via questionnaire; nurses were then timed administering test injections with lanreotide-ND and octreotide long-acting release. The most important delivery system attributes were easy/convenient preparation and injection (ranked in the top five by 70% of nurses), low clogging risk (58%), and high product efficacy (55%). Compared with the octreotide long-acting release device, lanreotide-ND scored higher on 15/16 attributes, had shorter mean preparation and administration time (329 versus 66 seconds, respectively; P ≤ 0.01) and a higher overall preference score (70 versus 114, respectively; P ≤ 0.01). The five most important lanreotide-ND attributes were: prefilled device, confidence a full dose was delivered, low clogging risk, easy/convenient preparation and injection, and fast administration. These device features could lead to improvements in clinical practice and benefit patients/caregivers who administer SSAs at home.