Factors determining patient choice of device for GH therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the factors determining patient choice of GH device, and whether offering free patient choice improves compliance with GH therapy.


METHODS
A prospective cross-sectional study performed on patients offered free choice of GH device in a regional growth clinic. In a subgroup having home delivery, GH compliance was assessed using ampoule counts.


RESULTS
125 patients (74 (59%) male), median (range) 9.30 (1.0-18.3) years were commenced on GH from January 2001 to March 2004, and offered free choice of device. 68 (54%) chose a needled device, and 57 (46%) needle-free. There was no statistical difference in age, sex or diagnostic category between the two groups. Light blue devices were more likely to be chosen by males (p=0.056). Questionnaires giving reasons for choosing a device were available in 40, and a further 50 gave reasons for both choosing a specific device and not choosing others. Other than choice of needled/needle-free device, the factor most likely to determine choice was 'ease of use'. Only 6 (4.8%) subsequently changed device, and compliance remained high but unchanged at approximately 90%.


CONCLUSIONS
There are no specific features which determine what GH device a patient will choose. For those units offering free patient choice, a wide range of different devices should be made available.
Wickramasuriya
B P N
BP
Department of Endocrinology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
Casey
A
A
Akhtar
S
S
Zia
R
R
Ehtisham
S
S
Barrett
T G
TG
Shaw
N J
NJ
Kirk
J M W
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies
D019382:Human Growth Hormone