ESPE Abstracts

Background: Treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) requires daily injections over multiple years. Novel technologies facilitate this by automating the injection process – thereby adding comfort and reducing anxiety. An always-connected device, enabled by mobile technologies, also facilitates the collection of injection data such that adherence information is available to healthcare professionals (HCPs) in real-time. In developing new solutions, it is important to account for HCP perspectives.

Aim: To explore the evolution of the next generation easypod^® device from the HCP perspective, with a focus on usability, data-enabled insights, and technology acceptance.

Methods: We performed a mixed-methods participatory study to assess the third generation of the easypod^® device (easypod^® 3) that is currently in development. A participatory workshop was conducted in Zaragoza, Spain. Participants included HCPs experienced in management of growth hormone treatment in paediatric patients. Participants discussed predefined questions and specific case studies as part of group activities. They also completed a 25-item, 5-scale Likert questionnaire to assess the impact the new device can have on usability and acceptability.

Results: Ten HCPs (6 endocrinologists, 2 nurses, and 2 pharmacists) participated in the workshop. Two main themes were identified and further explored during the sessions: user-device interaction and real-time data transmission. Participants considered the touchscreen interface on the easypod^® 3 as a substantial improvement. They stated that features such as tactile interaction and automatic data transmission would facilitate training and usability of the device. In turn, this could reduce the time and effort required to train patients and caregivers. Participants agreed that availability of real-time adherence data allows for better treatment monitoring and improved decision-making, as automatic data transmission offers a more reliable and realistic dataset for both adherent and non-adherent patients. However, participants did acknowledge that analysis of such data may increase their workload. All agreed that the new device should be part of a digital health ecosystem that provides complementary functionalities such as data analysis and visualisation. Notifications and reminders with educational and motivational content as part of the digital health solution were seen as additional valuable elements.

Conclusion: This work explored the perceived value seen by HCPs based on their assessment of a next generation auto-injector device for the treatment of GHD. HCPs ranked the new capabilities of the device, including usability and data transmission, as significant improvements. This next generation device will enhance decision making and will allow for more personalised care of paediatric GHD patients.