CONTENT INTRODUCTION: LA SSAs are recommended for the treatment of pts with advanced NETs. Given the long duration of therapy and differences in administration routes, it is important to understand pts’ injection experiences.
AIM(S): To report qualitative findings for the development of a pt satisfaction with SSA treatment survey.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rigorous approach of consultation with medical experts, a pt advocacy organization, and research team members was undertaken to design the survey. Concept elicitation and cognitive pretesting were conducted until item saturation occurred via semi-structured interviews with pts and nurses with NET and SSA experience. The final survey will be administered in 2019 to 200 pts with NET who are being treated with a SSA.
RESULTS: Eight pts were interviewed: 5 receiving lanreotide and 3 receiving octreotide; 2 pts had experience with both injections. Seven were female, and most had a primary tumor in the small intestine (n = 5, 62.5%). Additional interviews were conducted with two nurses. Results suggested that pts experience a significant burden related to their NET treatment. Strong qualitative data emerged indicating that nurse education and experience with LA SSA injections play key roles in treatment sequelae including pain and discomfort, impact on daily activities, and lack of efficacy.
CONCLUSION: Evaluations of pt satisfaction are increasingly important as pts take more active roles in decision-making for their treatment pathways. The interview stage consolidated the need for our survey to yield data on LA SSAs treatment aspects and will provide information that can be used to educate the clinical and broader medical community in a landscape that includes several new therapies.
