Patient, caregiver, and healthcare professional perspectives on seizure control and treatment goals.

OBJECTIVE: To examine perspectives of adult patients with epilepsy, caregivers, and healthcare professionals (HCPs) on seizure freedom, seizure control, communication, and treatment goals. METHODS: Participants were recruited from online M3 panel and by Rare Patient Voice, and completed the self-administered online STEP Survey (Seize the Truth of Epilepsy Perceptions). Group comparisons used analysis of variance and chi-square tests. RESULTS: The STEP Survey was completed by 400 adult patients with epilepsy, 201 caregivers, and 258 HCPs (112 general neurologists, 96 epileptologists, 50 nurse practitioners/physician assistants). Significantly more patients (61%) and caregivers (66%) than HCPs (45%) agreed that seizure freedom is always a reasonable goal (P < 0.05). On average, patients considered 3.6 seizures/year to be "in control." Of their patients with focal seizures, HCPs reported 47% were seizure-free and 33% were "in control" (63% were having 1-12 seizures/year), and 20% were with "uncontrolled" seizures. Among patients, caregivers, and HCPs, ≥60% agreed that a defining characteristic indicating seizure control was having good quality of life. Patients, caregivers, and HCPs agreed that the emotional, psychological, and relational impact of seizures were least discussed (<50% of each group reporting discussion), but disagreed in their top priority for greater discussion (patients: sudden unexplained death in epilepsy [SUDEP]; HCPs: relational impact of seizures). Although ≥80% of patients and caregivers selected multiple patient life goals as very or extremely important, 49% of patients said they do not share life goals with their HCP. HCPs agreed that patients are not telling them everything they should about their epilepsy (73% of HCPs) or their life goals (81% of HCPs). CONCLUSIONS: Differing perspectives on seizure freedom, seizure control, communication priorities, and treatment goals that were identified in the STEP Survey provide opportunities to improve patient care and outcomes through more effective two-way communication and alignment of goals among patients with epilepsy, caregivers, and HCPs.

Patient experience and unmet needs in high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer: Insights from qualitative interviews and a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate patient experience, unmet needs, and burden among patients with high-risk nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (HR-NMIBC) treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included HR-NMIBC patients who received BCG treatment in the past 3 years. The study, preceded by a focused literature review, was conducted in 2 phases: 1) qualitative interviews with 32 patients in the United States (US), France, Germany, and United Kingdom (UK) and 2) quantitative survey of 150 patients in the US. Both phases of the study assessed patient characteristics, treatment history, experience, and perceptions, as well as side effects, pain, discomfort, and time burden associated with BCG treatment. The quantitative survey included additional items related to BCG treatment satisfaction, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), productivity, and healthcare resource utilization. Descriptive statistics and bivariate subgroup comparisons were reported. RESULTS: All patients in both study phases received transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT). Nearly all patients reported keeping their bladder/avoiding radical cystectomy (RC) was important (99%). Results from the quantitative survey reported a substantial impact to cancer-specific HRQoL of patients, with lower mean scores on physical (64.7), social (62.8), and role functioning (56.7) as measured by the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-30). Most patients (69%) were satisfied overall with BCG treatment, although satisfaction declined with increased number of side effects, higher numbers of BCG administrations, and greater discomfort (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Most HR-NMIBC patients were satisfied overall with BCG treatment. Approximately half of the patients had stopped BCG treatment, notably, most during the induction phase, suggesting nonadherence to guidelines which recommend maintenance treatment after induction. Future treatments should focus on delaying or avoiding recurrence and cystectomy while reducing patient discomfort and discontinuation prior to completing the recommended course of treatment.

The Association of Oral Stimulant Medication Adherence with Work Productivity among Adults with ADHD.

OBJECTIVE: Examine associations between oral psychostimulant pharmacotherapy adherence, work productivity, and related indirect costs among US adults with ADHD. METHODS: Medication adherence (Medication Adherence Reasons Scale [MAR-Scale]), work productivity and activity impairment (Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-General Health questionnaire), and ADHD symptom level (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale version 1.1 Symptom Checklist) were assessed in this noninterventional online survey of adults who self-reported having an ADHD diagnosis and were currently receiving oral psychostimulant treatment for ≥3 months. RESULTS: Of 602 respondents, 395 had low/medium adherence (LMA: MAR-Scale total score ≥1) and 207 had high adherence (HA: MAR-Scale total score 0). After adjusting for covariates, the LMA group had significantly greater levels of absenteeism, absenteeism-related indirect costs, and total indirect costs (all p < .01) than the HA group. CONCLUSION: In adults with ADHD using oral psychostimulants, lower medication adherence was associated with greater absenteeism and indirect costs.

Development of a Measure to Assess Attitudes Towards Nasal versus Autoinjector Glucagon Delivery Devices for Treatment of Severe Hypoglycemia.

Background: For individuals managing diabetes, the administration of glucagon for severe hypoglycemia can be lifesaving, yet, until recently, there were no easy-to-use devices for these stressful emergencies. New products have emerged to meet this need, including nasal glucagon (NG) and auto-injector glucagon (AI). This study evaluated the psychometric properties of a new measure, the Glucagon Device Attitudes Questionnaire (GDAQ), in assessing attitudes toward NG and AI from the perspectives of persons with diabetes on insulin (PWDs), caregivers, and acquaintances. Methods: Developed based on qualitative research, the GDAQ consists of 38 rating items for each device and 16 direct-elicitation of attitudes of device relative to each other. It was administered to participants via a cross-sectional online survey. Twenty-six rating items were included in principal component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Items comprising each factor were averaged to form scales. Additionally, 12 direct elicitation items were averaged to form an overall "Attitudes" scale. Reliability and validity analyses were conducted. Descriptive statistics were provided for the rating items not included in the factor analysis. Results: A total of 405 PWDs, 313 caregivers, and 305 acquaintances participated. Three factors were identified: "Prepared and Protected" (7 items), "Hesitation" (12 items), and "Device Perceptions by Others" (7 items); factor loadings ranged from 0.13 to 0.92, 0.50 to 0.89, and 0.16 to 0.92, respectively. Cronbach's alpha for the four scales ranged from 0.76 to 0.96. Correlations of the scales with their global item ranged from 0.30 to 0.90. The items outside of the factor analysis showed good distribution in responses and differentiation between the two devices. Discussion: This study supports the validity and reliability of the GDAQ, which successfully conceptualizes attitudes towards devices for administering glucagon among different respondent groups. Use of the GDAQ can help guide the development and testing of new glucagon drug/device combinations.

Epilepsy Treatment Complacency in Patients, Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the perspectives of adult patients with epilepsy, caregivers, and health care professionals (HCPs) on treatment for seizures and treatment decisions, we developed and administered the STEP Survey (Seize the Truth of Epilepsy Perceptions). METHODS: Participants were recruited from online panel M3 and by Rare Patient Voice and completed the self-administered online STEP Survey. Analysis of variance and chi-square tests were used for group comparisons. RESULTS: The STEP Survey was completed by 400 adult patients, 201 caregivers, and 258 HCPs. Patients estimated reporting 45% of their seizures to their HCP, whereas caregivers estimated 83% and HCPs estimated 73% were reported. The most common reason for not reporting seizures was that the seizures were not serious enough to mention (patients 57%; caregivers 66%). A minority of patients (25%) and caregivers (30%) were very or extremely likely to ask their HCP about changing antiseizure medication (ASM) in the next 12 months. The HCP was most frequently selected by patients, caregivers, and HCPs as the person who initiates discussion of changing ASMs (patients 73%/caregivers 66%/HCPs 75%) and increasing ASM dosage (patients 77%/caregivers 68%/HCPs 81%). A majority of patients (65%) and caregivers (68%) somewhat or strongly agreed that they do not change ASMs due to fear of getting worse. HCPs perceive this fear less often, stating that 50% of their patients feel afraid when a second ASM was added. CONCLUSIONS: Improved reporting of all seizures, discussion of treatment changes, and the impact of fear on treatment decisions provide opportunities to reduce complacency and optimize patient outcomes.

Perceptions About Glucagon Delivery Devices for Severe Hypoglycemia: Qualitative Research With Patients, Caregivers, and Acquaintances.

PURPOSE: People with diabetes taking insulin are at risk of severe hypoglycemia, an unpredictable, life-threatening event that requires assistance from others. Outside the clinical setting, glucagon is indicated for the treatment of hypoglycemia. However, there is significant unmet medical need to improve successful administration of glucagon by caregivers and acquaintances. This study assesses perceptions about glucagon delivery and potential effects of 2 glucagon delivery devices for severe hypoglycemia. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with people with diabetes (patients), caregivers, and acquaintances from a general population panel composed of individuals across the United States who have agreed to be recruited for research studies. Participants were recruited via email with a link to an online screener to determine eligibility. Experienced qualitative researchers conducted telephone interviews after a semistructured discussion guide, developed by the authors, that focused on aspirational device features and perceptions about the 2 devices: nasal glucagon and autoinjector glucagon; visuals of the instructions for use were displayed. Verbatim transcripts were developed, and a qualitative analysis software program, MaxQDA, was used to code responses and themes that emerged from the data. FINDINGS: A total of 45 (15 patients, 15 caregivers, and 15 acquaintances) interviews were conducted (mean ages, 55, 40, and 51, respectively). The most frequently spontaneously identified aspirational features for a new glucagon device were ease of use (29 [64%]), including being uncomplicated, premixed/ready to use, and ability to use quickly; small/easy to carry (9 [20%]); needle-free/no long needles (8 [18%]); and easy instructions (4 [9%]). In general, participants indicated that having a glucagon delivery device on hand would make them feel prepared, protected, and confident that others could assist in the event of severe hypoglycemia. More participants across all subgroups preferred nasal glucagon versus autoinjector glucagon (33 [73%] vs 12 [27%]). Favorable comments about nasal glucagon included that it appeared to be easy to carry, easy to use, and lacked a needle, that one does not need to remove clothing to use it, and that others likely would be more comfortable using it. Favorable comments about autoinjector glucagon included that it was familiar as a rescue device and that patients felt confident that the full dose would be delivered with it. There may be more hesitation using autoinjector glucagon versus nasal glucagon because of anxiety about needles and locating an injection site. Participants indicated that they would feel more comfortable socially using nasal glucagon because it was viewed as more discreet and less embarrassing than using autoinjector glucagon; it was also considered less traumatic for use in children. IMPLICATIONS: This research suggests that patients with diabetes, caregivers, and acquaintances prefer a device that is simple, compact, and ready to use. Nasal glucagon was generally preferred over autoinjector glucagon primarily because it lacks a needle and it appears to be less complicated.