Industry-First Longitudinal Cohort Study Reports Training Devices Improved Patient Performance and Engagement

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Noble, the global leader in medical device training solutions, patient onboarding strategies and multisensory product development for the world’s top pharmaceutical brands, reported data from a study evaluating the effects of memory decay and device training on proper injection device usage. The study, which was sponsored by Noble and conducted by Insight Product Development, explored three conditions—as they relate to the performance, engagement and preferences of injection-naïve people experiencing a self-administered injection for the first time—following a 14-day decay period.

Results will be highlighted during a poster presentation on Monday, October 8 during the 2018 PDA Universe of Pre-Filled Syringes and Injection Devices and released as a white paper available for free download. The study found that training devices accompanying Instructions for Use (IFU), versus using just an IFU alone, led to increased engagement and improved patient performance.

Among the key findings:

• Participants who had access to training devices performed better during simulated injections.
• The at-home use of training devices increased patient engagement.
• Patients prefer self-paced training at home during the onboarding process.

“Results from this study show the benefit of providing patients access to training devices, particularly when they can be taken home for multiple practice injection sessions during the onboarding process,” said Joe Reynolds, Research Manager at Noble. “We believe these results can assist pharmaceutical manufacturers in creating effective combination product onboarding programs that can help healthcare professionals and patients close the training gap, thereby reducing patient errors when using autoinjectors.”

“Trainers can have a significant impact in getting patients familiar and comfortable with the injection process, but they need to be designed with the entire patient learning experience in mind,” said Michael Lau, PhD, Director of Human Factors at Insight “We, at Insight, are committed to helping define and develop training solutions that enhance the ability of patients to learn all the aspects that are critical to a safe self-injection process.”

To register for a free download of the white paper that details the data and conclusions from the study, please visit the following link: https://www.gonoble.com/study2018/

Study Protocol

In accordance with a protocol pre-approved by an IRB board, 27 healthy, injection-naïve adult participants with no professional medical training were enrolled and split into three cohorts of nine patients, each matched in age, gender and education level. All cohorts initially attended a 45-minute simulated in-office session demonstrating proper use of a mechanical autoinjector training device. Cohort A was then sent home with a Medication IFU leaflet; Cohort B was sent home with a mechanical trainer and Training IFU; and Cohort C was sent home with a mechanical trainer, Training IFU and Interactive Training Video. Cohorts were instructed to record the frequency with which they practiced with their materials. Participants were instructed to use these materials as if they were onboarding to a real treatment. At the conclusion of the 14-day period, all participants returned for a follow-up session at which they were told to conduct a simulated injection using a real single-use, prefilled, button-actuated autoinjector and injection pad. Patient performance was monitored and tabulated, and qualitative feedback was collected.

The 12 males and 15 females enrolled in the study ranged in age from 18 to 67, with a mean age of 41. Among the participants, four were high school graduates, nine had some college education, 10 were college graduates and four had attended graduate school.

The study was funded and sponsored by Noble and conducted by Insight Product Development of Chicago, Illinois.

About Noble

Noble® is the global leader in medical device training solutions, patient onboarding strategies and multisensory product development for the world’s top pharmaceutical brands. Focused on driving innovation in patient onboarding and device training, the company works closely with brand, device and commercialization teams to develop turnkey solutions that improve the onboarding experience and bring value to clients. For more information, please visit www.GoNoble.com.

About Insight

Insight Product Development is a design innovation consultancy focused on the medical device and drug delivery sectors since 1988. Capabilities include human factors engineering, design research, industrial design, engineering and prototyping. Insight supports its client’s device strategy across novel and platform devices. The company has expertise in contextual research and human factors driven understanding of the patient journey as well as design and development of autoinjectors, wearable injectors and inhalation devices across multiple chronic disease states.

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