Patient Experience of Treatment with Tirzepatide for Weight Management: Exit Interviews from SURMOUNT-4

Tirzepatide is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, which was approved in 2023 by the US Food and Drug Administration for weight management in adults with obesity or overweight. The purpose of this study was to conduct qualitative exit interviews with participants who had participated in the SURMOUNT-4 clinical trial, to better understand the patient experience of tirzepatide.

Online exit interviews were conducted with adults from the USA who had participated in the SURMOUNT-4 clinical trial for weight management, recruited from 16 US-based SURMOUNT-4 clinical sites. Interviews utilized a semi-structured interview guide, and included questions related to receiving tirzepatide, using a single-use injection pen device, and the overall trial experience. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, and analyzed using a content analysis.

Eighty-six adults (83% female; mean age 49.9 years) participated in the interviews. All participants shared at least one perceived benefit of tirzepatide experienced during the open-label phase of SURMOUNT-4, including improved appetite control, increased energy, or improved clothing fit. Despite the gastrointestinal side effects experienced, many participants liked the efficacy of tirzepatide, and reported that the single-use injection pen device for administering the study medication was easy to use. Most participants were willing to continue taking tirzepatide.

Study findings showed that beyond the direct pharmacological effects of treatment with tirzepatide, participants reported a wide range of perceived improvements across several aspects of their lives. Participants also reported a few negative experiences, including side effects. It is possible that the participants who had a more positive experience were more inclined to participate in the exit interviews. This study highlights the value of exit interviews, which can provide more learning about patient experiences during a clinical trial.