Usability of the Novel Liraglutide 3.0 mg Pen Injector among Overweight or Obese Adult Patients with or Without Prior Injection Experience

Ken Fujioka*, Thomas Sparre, Lily Yong Hui Sun, Susanne Krogsgaard, Robert F. Kushner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Obesity is associated with multiple comorbidities and increased mortality, making it an important target for treatment. However, achieving and maintaining weight loss by diet and physical activity remains challenging, and may often require pharmacotherapy. Liraglutide 3.0 mg has recently been approved for weight management in the United States, Canada, and EU. The current analysis used a summative usability test to assess safety and effectiveness, ease of use, and training requirements for the novel liraglutide 3.0 mg pen injector. Methods: Of the 234 participants, half received instructions for use and video-based training and/or opportunity to handle the device. All participants (excluding pharmacists) performed 6 tasks followed by post- task interviews on task difficulty, device ease of use, and any use errors, close calls, and operational difficulties. Tasks included differentiation of correct box and pen injector, medication clarity assessment, normal, dose reversal, and end-of-content injection. Number/type of use errors, close calls, and operational difficulties were evaluated. Results: All assessed participants interpreted the instructions for use correctly. No potentially serious use errors, and low numbers of nonserious errors, were reported. Overall, participants committed 105 use errors related to handling, with no potential for harm. A total of 25 close calls and 44 operational difficulties were reported without any pattern indicative of a design flaw. Marked differences in the incidence of events were observed for trained versus untrained participants regardless of prior injection experience. Participants rated ease of use as 6.4/7. Conclusions: The liraglutide 3.0 mg pen injector is safe and easy to use for liraglutide administration. New device features allow for safe use after brief training.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)164-174
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Diabetes Science and Technology
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2016

Keywords

  • liraglutide
  • obesity
  • pen injector
  • pharmacotherapy
  • usability testing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Bioengineering
  • Biomedical Engineering

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