METHODS: Semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted among Canadians with severe asthma from July to August 2022. Purposeful sampling included individuals with and without biologic therapy experience. All participants described daily life with severe asthma, experiences and priorities related to asthma treatment and their impressions of biologics. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to explore patterns in the data.
RESULTS: Among 18 individuals included, 10 were currently taking or had prior experience with biologic treatment for asthma. Those who had never been treated with biologics were unfamiliar with them, considering treatment, or believed that they may not be eligible. Four themes were developed to convey the perspectives of participants on biologics: (1) life-changing benefits, but not for all; (2) navigating barriers to being prescribed and remaining adherent to biologic treatments; (3) treatment administration preferences are not only about convenience; (4) concerns about safety and the unknown as a source of treatment hesitancy.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the clinical benefits of biologics align with patient perceptions of achieving good asthma control. However, treatment gaps persist among individuals who do not experience a meaningful improvement in their asthma symptoms and those who face barriers accessing biologics. People with severe asthma attributed importance to greater availability of at-home treatment options, improved access to financial support to cover treatment costs and support to address safety concerns. This research provides insight into patient-based treatment priorities and preferences for biologics, which may help inform decision-making related to emerging therapies for severe asthma.
For people with severe asthma, biologics are a treatment option that can be taken in addition to their regular medication. In this study, we asked 18 Canadians with severe asthma about how having severe asthma affects their lives, their current and previous asthma treatments, and their views on biologics. Ten people in this study were currently taking or had previously taken biologics for severe asthma. We found that biologics can be life changing. Also, people with severe asthma can find it difficult to get on and stay on biologics. They would like financial and educational support when considering biologics and prefer to take biologics at home, if possible. This study helps us understand the priorities and preferences related to biologics of patients with severe asthma.
方法:半结构化,我们于2022年7月至8月对患有严重哮喘的加拿大人进行了定性访谈.有目的的抽样包括有和没有生物治疗经验的个体。所有参与者都描述了严重哮喘的日常生活,与哮喘治疗相关的经验和优先事项及其对生物制剂的印象。使用自反性主题分析来探索数据中的模式。
结果:在包括的18个人中,10人目前正在服用或以前有哮喘的生物治疗经验。那些从未接受过生物制剂治疗的人不熟悉它们,考虑到治疗,或者认为他们可能没有资格。开发了四个主题来传达参与者对生物制品的观点:(1)改变生活的好处,但不适合所有人;(2)克服处方障碍并保持对生物治疗的坚持;(3)治疗给药偏好不仅涉及便利性;(4)对安全性和未知因素的担忧是治疗犹豫的根源。
结论:研究结果表明,生物制剂的临床益处与患者对实现良好哮喘控制的看法一致。然而,在哮喘症状没有显著改善的个体和在获取生物制剂方面面临障碍的个体中,治疗差距仍然存在.患有严重哮喘的人将重要性归因于更多的家庭治疗选择,改善获得财政支持以支付治疗费用和支持以解决安全问题。这项研究提供了对基于患者的治疗优先级和对生物制剂的偏好的见解。这可能有助于为与重症哮喘的新兴疗法相关的决策提供信息。
对于重度哮喘患者,生物制剂是一种治疗选择,可以采取除了他们的常规药物。在这项研究中,我们询问了18名患有严重哮喘的加拿大人严重哮喘如何影响他们的生活,他们目前和以前的哮喘治疗方法,以及他们对生物制品的看法。这项研究中有10人目前正在服用或以前曾服用生物制剂治疗严重哮喘。我们发现生物制剂可以改变生活。此外,患有严重哮喘的人可能会发现很难继续服用生物制剂。他们在考虑生物制剂时希望获得财政和教育支持,并且更愿意在家中服用生物制剂,如果可能的话。这项研究有助于我们了解重症哮喘患者与生物制剂相关的优先事项和偏好。