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Intravenous versus Subcutaneous Drug Administration. Which Do Patients Prefer? A Systematic Review
Kelly L Stoner1, Helena Harder, Lesley J Fallowfield
1Sussex Health Outcomes Research and Education in Cancer (SHORE-C), Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Science Park Road, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9RX, UK.
The Patient
|July 13, 2014
Summary
Patients often prefer subcutaneous (SC) drug delivery over intravenous (IV) administration due to convenience and home treatment options. Incorporating patient preference in clinical research is crucial for adherence and satisfaction.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Research
- Patient-Reported Outcomes
Background:
- Intravenous (IV) drug delivery offers rapid effects but patient preference is understudied.
- Subcutaneous (SC) delivery is often compared to IV for safety and efficacy, neglecting patient choice.
- Understanding patient preference is key for treatment adherence and quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize evidence on patient preference between SC and IV drug administration.
- To identify factors influencing patient preference for drug delivery routes.
- To highlight the importance of patient preference in clinical decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and crossover studies.
- Searched seven electronic databases up to February 2014.
- Assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Collaboration tool.
Main Results:
- Only 6 out of 115 publications met inclusion criteria.
- Four studies showed a clear patient preference for SC administration.
- Key factors for SC preference included time savings and home administration.
Conclusions:
- Patients generally prefer SC over IV drug delivery.
- Patient preference is a critical, yet often overlooked, factor in treatment selection.
- Future research should integrate patient preference measures to improve adherence and satisfaction.
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