title: Patient Satisfaction with the New Interferon Beta-1b Autoinjector (BETACONNECT™).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) typically requires life-long management with disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Many DMTs require regular self-injection, and can be associated with injection site reactions, pain, and needle/injection phobia-but these can be addressed by improvements in autoinjector design. The aim of this study was to investigate patient satisfaction and preference for BETACONNECT™ (Bayer Pharma AG), a novel interferon beta-1b autoinjector.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in Germany performing self-injections using BETACONNECT took part in the study. Data were collected through an online 15-min structured survey. Participants rated their experience with BETACONNECT on a 6-point scale and those satisfied with BETACONNECT were asked to describe the reason using a free-text box.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One-hundred and eighteen patients with MS completed the survey. Ninety percent preferred BETACONNECT to their previous injection method (only 4% previously used manual injections, so most had previously used other autoinjectors). Ninety-two percent were very confident/confident in their ability to perform an injection using BETACONNECT. The most common free-text responses to "Why are you satisfied with the BETACONNECT™ autoinjector?" were ease of use (46%), less irritation/pain at the injection site (33%), and smoother injections (24%). Features considered most useful were automated injections (98%), adjustable injection speed (98%), and adjustable injection depth (98%). Ninety-seven percent thought it was easy to know when an injection was complete and 95% agreed/strongly agreed it was easy to learn to use the autoinjector. Seventy-three percent agreed that the quietness and effortlessness of the BETACONNECT reduced their level of injection anxiety, 92% that its size and shape makes it easy to handle during injections, and 67% that it decreases injection site pain. Eighty percent of those using the reminder function thought they were less likely to miss an injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with MS self-injecting interferon beta-1b expressed a high level of satisfaction and preference for BETACONNECT. Thus, BETACONNECT represents a valid option to improve patients' overall injection experience.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Centre for Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus at the Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. tjalf.ziemssen@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Tjalf
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziemssen
authors.affiliation: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Whippany, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sylvester
authors.affiliation: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Whippany, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rametta
authors.affiliation: Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Amy Perrin
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ross
keywords: Beta-interferons; Disease-modifying therapies; Electronic autoinjector; Patient survey; Relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis