Survey on switching from a subcutaneous syringe to an autoinjection pen for the administration of adalimumab（Humira^®）in patients with rheumatic diseases

<p>Objectives: To clarify the benefits of switching from a syringe to an autoinjection pen for the administration of adalimumab（ADA; Humira^®）in patients with rheumatic diseases, and to explore the characteristics of patients who refuse to switch.</p><p>Methods: Patients with rheumatic diseases using ADA were surveyed to investigate the status of switching from syringe to pen, and to compare the characteristics of patients who agreed to switch with those of patients who refused. In patients who switched, impressions after the use of both devices and changes due to the switch were verified using a questionnaire.</p><p>Results: A switch from the syringe to the pen for administering ADA was proposed to 21 patients, of whom 15（71.4%）switched. The group who refused to switch had used a syringe significantly longer than those who switched（p=0.02）. In patients who switched, improvement was observed in “anxiety and fear,” “ease of injection,” “ease of handling device,” “pain at injection site,” and “overall satisfaction.” In self-injecting patients, switching also decreased the number of actual and suspected failures of injection, and instances of forgetting or voluntarily avoiding self-injection, while “motivation and positive outlook towards treatment” significantly increased（p=0.01）. A woman who initially refused to switch to the pen but later wanted to switch, showed a characteristic change in her mind.</p><p>Conclusions: Switching from a syringe to an autoinjection pen for administering ADA may be useful for alleviating anxiety, fear, and pain associated with injections, and improving motivation towards treatment. However, device selection considering patients’ intention is important.</p>