Patient satisfaction with an injection device for multiple sclerosis treatment

To develop a measure of treatment satisfaction assessing attributes specific to injected interferon-beta-1a (IFN-beta-1a) for multiple sclerosis (MS), and to test pain and instrument sensitivity to change among patients changing injection devices.

The MS Treatment Concerns Questionnaire (MSTCQ) was developed and tested with pain assessments before and 3 months after patients changed devices from Rebiject to Rebiject II.

The MSTCQ was organized with two domains: Injection System Satisfaction and Side Effects (three subscales: Injection Site Reactions, Global Satisfaction, and Flu-Like Symptoms). Significant improvements (P = 0.002 to P < 0.001) occurred with the new injection device in all MSTCQ subscales (except Flu-Like Symptoms), and all pain measures (P < 0.0001). Clinically meaningful improvement was demonstrated in all scales, except Flu-Like Symptoms, by effect sizes (0.23-0.59).

These statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in MSTCQ and pain measures show the value of technologically advanced devices in domains of concern to patients.