A Prospective Study for Introducing Insulin Pens and Safety Needles in a Hospital Setting. The SANITHY Study

Title:A Prospective Study for Introducing Insulin Pens and Safety Needles in a Hospital Setting. The SANITHY Study

Volume: 12 Issue: 4

Author(s): Antonio C. Bossi, Giovanni Veronesi, Carmine S. Poerio, Alessandra Braus, Sara Madaschi, Maurizio Destro, Bruno Ferraro, Lavinia Gilberti, Paolo Sganzerla and Estella M. Davis

Affiliation:

Keywords: Inpatients insulin therapy, insulin pens, safety needles, customer satisfaction, safety devices, insulin therapy costs.

Abstract: Background: to assess costs and safety of insulin pen devices and safety needles as compared to vial/syringes in hospitalized patients requiring insulin therapy in a General Hospital in Northern Italy.

Materials and Methods: in a prospective 9-month study, consecutive patients admitted to three Hospital Units received insulin therapy through either a traditional disposable syringe method, or pen/safety needles with dual-ended protection, or disposable safety syringes. We compared the median direct (insulin and devices) and indirect (insulin supply at discharge, insulin wastage) costs of a 10-day in-hospital insulin treatment in the 3 study groups, additionally accounting for the costs related to the observed needlestick injury rate. Patients’ safety during in-hospital stay (hypo- and hyperglycemia episodes) and satisfaction were also assessed.

Results: N=360 patients (55% men, mean age 75.6 years, 57% with DM since ≥10 years) were recruited in the study. Insulin pens had higher median direct cost than both traditional syringes (43 vs. 18 ε/patient, p<.0001) and safety syringes (21.5 ε/patient, p<.0001). However, when also indirect and injuries costs were taken into account, the estimated savings for using pens over traditional syringes were as high as 32 ε/patient (45.8 vs. 77.6 ε/patient, p-value <.0001). No differences in patients’ safety were observed. 74% and 12% of patients using pens and syringes would like to continue the method at home, respectively (p<0.0001).

Discussion: A selective use of individual pre-filled pens/safety needles for patients who are likely to continue insulin therapy at home may strongly reduce hospital diabetes treatment related costs.

Cite this article as:

Bossi C. Antonio, Veronesi Giovanni, Poerio S. Carmine, Braus Alessandra, Madaschi Sara, Destro Maurizio, Ferraro Bruno, Gilberti Lavinia, Sganzerla Paolo and Davis M. Estella, A Prospective Study for Introducing Insulin Pens and Safety Needles in a Hospital Setting. The SANITHY Study, Current Diabetes Reviews 2016; 12 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573399811666150806150210