ESPE Abstracts

Background: Aluetta^® Smartdot™ (Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany) is first of its kind digitally connected smart injection pen device for recombinant-human growth hormone (r-hGH) administration. Aluetta^® pen with Smartdot™ knob attachment integrated with Growzen™ digital ecosystem enables healthcare professionals (HCPs) to remotely monitor adherence and achieve optimal clinical outcomes for patients.

Aim: To explore current landscape of growth hormone deficiency care in Italy, to analyse HCPs’ perception on the potential acceptance of health devices and technological evolution, and to identify factors impacting their intent-to-use and recommend digital solutions supporting r-hGH therapy.

Method: A 4-hour participatory workshop was conducted in Rome, Italy on 25^th November 2022 with eight HCPs (regardless of previous digital device usage experience) including three adult endocrinologists. They were divided into two teams (each moderated by facilitator) based on professional expertise, age, and gender. HCPs discussed two contexts of self-administration and caregiver-supported administration to identify factors and share opinions according to variety of predefined topics on technology acceptance. Workshop progressed in 5 phases with the introduction of project and participants, views on current context of digitalization, perceived usefulness and ease of use of Aluetta^® Smartdot™ device (as example of digital solution), perception of health technology evolution, and combined team recommendation. Data collected via audio-recordings, completed predefined templates, and facilitators’ notes were independently analysed by experts in participatory research using thematic analysis and relevant findings were shared and validated with participants.

Results: Four main themes were identified upon analysis: 1) understanding the context for digital transformation: currently, Italian National Health System lack resources to support the growth hormone device ecosystem; 2) relevant digital health design considerations: catering target audience’s specific needs, preferences; 3) perceived benefits and risks of using digital solutions for adherence monitoring: can result in reduced costs for healthcare system and patients, may strengthen HCP-patient relationship, digital solution accuracy can impact data driven decisions; and 4) perceived usefulness and ease-of-use: Aluetta^® Smartdot™ and Growzen™ ecosystem was perceived simple to use/teach/learn with a potential to improve injection data download and adherence monitoring.

Conclusion: Participants perceived Aluetta^® Smartdot™ to be highly useful and easy-to-use. Aluetta^® with Smartdot™ enables automatic and real-time injection data transmission to support adherence monitoring and data-driven treatment decisions. The availability of unbiased, accurate data transmitted by device would be of benefit and helps generate new evidence-based knowledge to support clinical decision making and strengthen patient-HCP relationships, empower patients throughout the treatment process.