Impact of Routines and Rituals on Burden of Treatment, Patient Training, Cognitive Load, and Anxiety in Self-Injected Biologic Therapy.

Background: Self-injection of biologics is a mainstay of chronic disease treatment, yet the process of self-injection often causes persistent apprehension and anxiety, distinct from needle phobia. While literature alludes to the role that routines and rituals play in self-injection, there is no comprehensive study on the routines and rituals self-injectors employ, nor of the process by which they are discovered and ingrained.

Methods: We conducted a mixed-method, observational pilot ethnography study of 27 patients with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis with and without prior biologic self-injection experience.

Optimizing Social Support in Oncology with Digital Platforms.

Increased cancer prevalence and survival rates coupled with earlier patient discharges from hospitals have created a greater need for social support. Cancer care is both short term and long term, requiring acute treatments, treatments for remission, and long-term screenings and treatment regimens. Health care systems are already overwhelmed and often struggle to provide social support systems for everyone.

The current paradigm for biologic initiation: a confirmatory quantitative analysis of self-injection training practices.

Background: Self-injected biologic therapies have gained significant prevalence across numerous therapeutic areas. A lack of specific guidance on best practices may lead to inadequate biologic initiation and training. We previously conducted a small-sample, qualitative analysis designed to identify gaps in self-injection training.

Evaluation of a Novel Prefilled Syringe Concept for Ophthalmic Applications: A Formative Human Factors Study.

Intravitreal injection (IVI) is the most commonly performed intraocular procedure worldwide. Several manufacturers have developed glass prefilled syringe (PFS) devices to increase the ease of performing IVIs and reduce the complications associated with medication preparation. This formative human factors study assessed a novel, polymer PFS alternative to glass syringes to support development of a usable, silicone-free delivery platform for IVI.

The current paradigm for biologic initiation: a mixed-methods exploration of practices, unmet needs, and innovation opportunities in self-injection training.

Background: Self-injection, particularly of biologics, has become a mainstay of chronic disease management. Despite labeling requirement for healthcare provider (HCP) training, current injection initiation experiences have been shown to be suboptimal. This study characterizes gaps in training and support during initiation and identifies rationales to inform solutions.

The burden of at-home preparation of lyophilized parenteral medications: an analysis of contributing factors and implications for chronic disease patients and caregivers.

Background: In the acute care setting, parenteral medication errors are well-studied. However, there is comparatively little research on how these issues translate to patient- or caregiver-prepared medications in the home, particularly with reconstituted medications.

Methods: This was an ethnographic study designed to identify issues associated with four reconstitution use scenarios.