Ease of use and acceptability of a new pen device for the administration of growth hormone therapy in pediatric patients: an open-label, uncontrolled usability test.
BACKGROUND
Recombinant human growth hormone (GH) is used for the treatment of several conditions associated with growth retardation and metabolic dysfunction. These patients are typically diagnosed and treated from childhood, and treatment adherence in children might be problematic. To potentially improve treatment adherence in children who self-inject GH, it is important that devices for the administration of GH are simple to learn to use, simple to use, and well accepted by patients and their parents or guardians.


OBJECTIVE
This study compared the usability and acceptability of the Norditropin FlexPro pen and NovoFine needles (Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) for the administration of GH in pediatric patients with GH deficiency (GHD).


METHODS
Patients aged 10 to <18 years with GHD and who were receiving daily treatment with selfinjectable GH were included in this open-label, uncontrolled usability test. Patients used the Norditropin FlexPro pen and NovoFine G32 needles to inject test medium into an injection pad; this test was repeated. For the assessment of patients' acceptance of the device, patients completed a 21-item questionnaire regarding pen performance before and during injection.


RESULTS
Seventy patients participated in the study (mean age, 14 years; 67% male; 23% left-handed). No significant differences in demographic characteristics (age, sex, duration of treatment with GH, current device used, and left- or right-handedness) were found between boys and girls, younger and older children, or children who had been receiving short-term (months) or long-term (years) GH treatment. Sixty-eight patients (97%) rated attachment of the needle, priming the device, dialing up the dose, and reading the scale on the device as very easy or quite easy. A total of 99% of patients rated injection of their usual dose and of a 4-mg dose as very easy or quite easy, and pushing the dose button as very easy or quite easy as well as very comfortable or quite comfortable. All of the patients rated hearing the click while performing the injection as very easy or easy. Overall, 64% of patients indicated a preference for the Norditropin FlexPro pen over the device they were currently using.


CONCLUSIONS
In this preliminary usability test in pediatric patients, the Norditropin FlexPro pen was perceived as reliable and easy to use and was well accepted. There was also a high level of comfort that GH had been injected properly and that the correct dose had been delivered among the children and adolescents with GHD who participated in the study.
Fuchs
Gitte Schøning
GS
Clinical Operations, Modern Insulin and Devices, Novo Nordisk A/S, Soeborg, Denmark.
Mikkelsen
Søren
S
Knudsen
Thomas Kamp
TK
Kappelgaard
Anne-Marie
AM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D009339:Needles; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012646:Self Administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone