[Study on how schizophrenic patients perceive treatment with injections in the deltoid muscle]

Despite the advantages of antipsychotic treatments via the injectable route of administration, there are still reservations regarding this type of therapy, notably among health professionals. A survey conducted with patients suffering from schizophrenic disorders revealed the positive opinion that they had of their treatment. Another survey showed that nearly half of the patients preferred an injectable form, and two thirds felt they were cared for better, because of the injectable treatment. The slow release form of risperidone allows a choice between two injection sites: the deltoid muscle or the gluteal muscle. A recent study showed the satisfaction of the health professionals towards this novel form. The survey presented here was aimed at collecting the opinion of patients regarding the possibility of choosing the injection site, and the changes it would make.

The survey was carried out by the BVA Institute during the first half of 2011. The interviews with the schizophrenic patients, followed-up as out patients and treated with long lasting antipsychotics (n=281), were conducted face to face at the hospital by BVA interviewers specialised in the field of health, without the presence of any health professionals. A total of 32 centres participated in the survey; 38% of the interviews took place in the Paris area and 62% in various regions.

Different dimensions were analysed. (1) The perception of injectable treatment was largely positive: among all the patients, 75% claimed they currently felt better once they had started the injectable treatment. (2) The choice of the injection site appeared important to a majority of patients (70% of the total sample; 79% of patients had experienced both sites of injection), 56% claimed that it was legitimate that they be given the choice and they felt that they were thus able to participate in their treatment (58%), their treatment was more acceptable (54%), and they found that their relationship with the doctor or nurse was enhanced (53%). (3) The preference regarding the injection site went to the deltoid muscle, among those who had experienced both sites. (4) The perception of the injection sites confirms this preference, the positive qualifications often being associated with the deltoid site, and the negative qualifications with the gluteal site.

The survey presented here could contribute in convincing the health professionals to propose the choice to patients between the two injection sites in order to improve their compliance to treatment. Patients would therefore play a role in the choice of their treatment and hence become more involved in the follow-up.