A randomized, open-label, comparative crossover handling trial between two durable pens in patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
This open-label, randomized, comparative crossover usability study investigated preference between durable insulin pens, NovoPen® 4 and NovoPen 3, among patients with types 1 and 2 diabetes.


METHODS
In a timed test, 82 current NovoPen 3 users (mean age, 48.5 years) assessed intuitiveness of NovoPen 4. After timed training, this group and 34 insulin-naïve patients (mean age, 61.8 years) were randomized to a handling evaluation of NovoPen 4 followed by NovoPen 3, or vice versa, in which participants made three injections into a foam cushion. A device-specific questionnaire was filled out for each pen. A third questionnaire asked participants to compare pens.


RESULTS
Current NovoPen 3 users completed the intuitive assessment of NovoPen 4 in an average time of 1.94 min (range, 0.57-4.98 min). The training of insulin-naïve patients occurred in slightly less time with NovoPen 4 than with NovoPen 3 but did not reach significance (9.9 versus 11.5 min; p = .32). Survey responses showed that both groups had less difficulty and were more confident in handling NovoPen 4 than NovoPen 3; 96.3% of the NovoPen 3 users and 100% of the insulin-naïve group preferred to use NovoPen 4 (p < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients currently using NovoPen 3 or who were insulin naïve expressed a preference for NovoPen 4 in this study, reporting it to be simpler to learn and easier to use than NovoPen 3. NovoPen 4 may help facilitate insulin therapy among newly diagnosed patients and potentially improve adherence and treatment satisfaction among current NovoPen 3 users.
Prevention Center University Hospital, Salzburg, Austria. b.sommavilla@salk.at
Bärbel
B
Sommavilla
Giacomo
G
Pietranera
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000295:instrumentation; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin