POSSIBILITY V3

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Perceptions on Self-Administration Injections as a Biological Therapy (POSSIBILITY) study

• IRAS ID

  293120

• Contact name

  Liam G Heaney

• Contact email

  l.heaney@qub.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Queen's University Belfast

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  GPRI Number, GPRI19104

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, months, 60 days

• Research summary

  Research Summary:
  Biological therapies offer much promise for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma, which underlines the need to improve the accessibility of these drugs. Self-administration by patients of biological therapies using an injection pen at home is likely to facilitate this, but little is known about patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions. The objective of the POSSIBILITY study is to elucidate patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions and experiences with regard to patients’ self-administration of biological therapies at home compared to the administration of these drugs in the hospital by clinicians. A qualitative cross-national study will be conducted in four countries. In Northern Ireland, two separate focus groups will be held with patients: one with patients starting biologic therapy and another with current users. This will also be conducted in 3 other countries (thus 8 focus groups in total). Interviews will be held with chest physicians and nurses. Audio recordings of focus groups and interviews will be transcribed and analysed with qualitative content analysis. In addition, a novel artificial intelligence approach will be used to code and analyse the transcribed focus groups.

  Summary of Results:
  : Background Biologics are an effective therapy for severe asthma. Home-administration of biologics by patients is likely to facilitate their accessibility. Yet, little is known about patients’ and health care providers’ (HCPs) perceptions regarding home-administration of biologics.

  Objective
  The aim of this study is to create more insight into the perceptions and experiences of patients and HCPs regarding home-administration of biologics in the treatment of severe asthma.

  Methods
  An international study was performed in the Netherlands, United States, Australia, and United Kingdom. In each country, two focus groups were held with potential and current users of biologics at home. Prior to the focus groups, patients were prompted with themes on online forums. Interviews were held with HCPs to discuss salient findings from forums and focus groups

  Results
  In total, 75 patients participated in the forums, of which 40 participated in the focus groups. Furthermore, 12 HCPs were interviewed. The following themes were identified: living with severe asthma; practical aspects of using biologics; the role of HCPs regarding biologics; social support from family, friends, and others; effectiveness of biologics and other treatments; side-effects of biologics.

  Conclusion
  This study showed that for those using biologics for severe asthma, the benefits of home-administration of biologics usually outweigh inconvenience and side-effects. Guided practice, accessible support contact, and monitoring including social support, should be central in the transition from hospital to home-administration of asthma biologics.

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/SC/0067

• Date of REC Opinion

  17 Mar 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion