Cancer patients’ perspectives: A qualitative study of reasons for subcutaneous preference vs intravenous treatment.

Abstract

e23124 Background: Oncology therapeutics are increasingly available via subcutaneous (SC) administration. While previous studies demonstrate a patient preference for SC, there is little real-world research to explain reasons why patients prefer SC over intravenous (IV) administration. Methods: An online survey comprising 44 fixed-response questions and 1 free-text question was conducted from May-June 2024 among US cancer patients (>18 yr) treated with oncology SC therapies having prior IV experience with the same or different drug for the same condition.Qualitative responses of respondents who preferred SC treatment were summarized and thematically analyzed. Individual responses could be coded to more than one theme . Additional analyses were conducted by gender and age. Results: 201 respondents completed the survey [66.17% female; mean age 56.5 (SD = 12.27)]. Participants self-identified as having a blood or solid tumor cancer diagnosis including multiple myeloma (57.71%), breast (34.33%), and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (7.46%). Qualitative response analysis of the 180 respondents that preferred SC (89.55%) yielded a total of 233 comments that were grouped into 6 key themes (Table). Gender did not affect response. However, those age >65 view the time impact of treatment administration as significantly more important (40.45%) vs. those < 65 (24.31%). Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the reasons for SC treatment-related preferences of cancer patients. Discussion of administration route effects such as time burden, convenience, tolerability and site of care can inform shared decision-making between providers and patients and may lead to higher quality of care. Key themes. Theme Description Illustrative Quotes % Response (n=233) Time Impact on time related to treatment, travel, personal, work or social activities “Huge life improvement with SC injection. I spend years of my life getting IV medications. I want my time back.” 30.5 Ease & convenience Perception of SC or IV route on treatment experience effort “The injection under the skin is much simpler, you don't need a port that could get infected, you don't need to sit as long.” 27.0 Administration route effects SC or IV administration impacts such as pain, port, infection concerns, tolerability “(SC) is easy to tolerate, I do not get so sick as after infusion, I can do more stuff every day.” 17.6 Travel & location Treatment impacts such as travel, distance, site of care “Injection under the skin is much easier than the port and having to go to the hospital and sit for infusion. It is much more normal to go to the doctor’s office. It seems less like cancer when you go to the doctor’s office.” 13.3 Emotional impact Including confidence, satisfaction, independence “(SC) has given me my life back.” 7.7 Support system Impacts on family or friends “(SC) has made a difference with my caregiver. Gives him more free time and less stress on both of us.” 3.9