A PROSPECTIVE, OPEN-LABELLED, NON-CONTROLLED OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS DOCTOR PREFERENCE ON FLEXPEN™ FOR TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Background: The accuracy and convenience of pen devices for insulin injection have improved quality of life for patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (DM). Prefilled, disposable pens have the advantage of simplicity, with minimal training and attention required and these offer improvements in compliance, freedom and flexibility. Objective: The survey assessed doctor preference in prescribing insulin in a FlexPen™ in diabetes patients in the Philippines under normal clinical practice conditions. The data was based from observations on the use of NovoMix® 30 FlexPen™ (Biphasic Insulin Aspart 30). Data was collected from 256 doctors who were specialised in treating patients with diabetes and had their clinics in the Philippines. A Doctor Preference Questionnaire was developed to assess doctor preference in specific terms of ease of learning and teaching use of FlexPen™, time spent for patient training in use of FlexPen™, ease of setting up the required dose of FlexPen™, DoctorEs satisfaction of shifting from any other device to FlexPen™, confidence that the correct amount of insulin will be injected, feedback about the NovoFine® 30G needles, overall experience with FlexPen™. Results: In total, 256 doctors participated and completed the doctor satisfaction questionnaires. Majority of doctors 62.1% felt learning/ teaching the use of FlexPen™ to the patients was „very easy‰; and 66.8% healthcare professionals (doctor or their staff) spent less than 10 minutes to train the patients on how to use FlexPen™. About 96% doctors responded that it is very easy or easy to set up the required dose and dose correction using FlexPen™. About (98.8%) doctors were confident or very confident that their patients will inject the correct dosage of insulin using FlexPen™. Almost all doctors (98.4%) satisfied or very satisfied about the patient shifting from other insulin devices to FlexPen™; 39.5% doctors rated the design of FlexPen™ as excellent; 55.5% rated it as good; while 74.6% doctors rated the overall experience of FlexPen™ as excellent. Conclusion: The participating doctors showed high degree of acceptance of Flexpen™. The overall experience of Flexpen™ was excellent.