title: Factors determining patient choice of device for GH therapy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: B P N
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Wickramasuriya
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ehtisham
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: J M W
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kirk
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone