Abstract

Objective: To assess factors that might affect patient use of insulin pens.

Methods: Patients (N= 600, 300 using vial and syringe, 300 using pen) were recruited from national panels to participate in computer-assisted telephone interviews. Measures included: demographic characteristics; diabetes treatment and self-care factors; perceptions of pen convenience, clinical efficacy, facilitation of self-care, and cost; and degree of physicians' recommending pen use.

Results: Physician recommendation of pen use powerfully discriminated pen users from non-users (OR=135.6). Other factors that discriminated pen users included physicians' presenting pens as an option (OR=14.1), and patient perceptions that pens facilitate diabetes self-care (OR=20.2) and are not costly (OR=4.8).

Conclusions: The physician's role in presenting the pen as an option and recommending pen use was a critical factor in patient pen use. Enhanced physician education regarding the potential benefits of pen use, and encouraging physicians to discuss pen use with patients could improve diabetes outcomes.