Patient and physician satisfaction with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): are there opportunities for improvement?

Few studies have explored the satisfaction with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The aim of this study was to assess patient and physician satisfaction with currently prescribed PPIs for patients with GERD.

Separate online surveys were completed by 1,002 physicians and 1,013 GERD patients. Physician surveys examined satisfaction, symptom relief, long-term therapy, side-effects, breakthrough symptoms, and use of supplemental medications with PPIs. Patient surveys evaluated PPI regimen, length of therapy, satisfaction with PPI, symptom relief, use of supplemental medications, and perceptions about long-term use and side-effects.

Most respondents were satisfied with PPI therapy, but 35.4% of GERD patients and 34.8% of physicians perceived patients as "somewhat satisfied" to "completely dissatisfied" with PPI therapy. Patients who were highly satisfied were more likely to indicate complete symptom relief (P < 0.001) relative to patients who were less satisfied. However, over 35% of patients on once-daily and 54% on twice-daily PPI indicated that therapy failed to completely relieve symptoms. Patients who were highly satisfied were more likely to recommend medication to patients with the same symptoms (P < 0.001) and less likely to report that the medication is too expensive (P < 0.001), worry about long-term use (P < 0.001), or add OTC medications for supplemental control (P < 0.004).

Approximately one-third of GERD patients reported persistent symptoms and were dissatisfied with PPI therapy.