Factors associated with persistence and resumption of insulin pen use for patients with type 2 diabetes

Objective: This study assessed patient-related factors associated with persistence and resumption of using pens as insulin delivery devices. Methods: Patients (n = 549; 300 current pen users, 249 former pen users) were recruited from national panels to participate in computer-assisted telephone interviews. Measures included demographic characteristics, diabetes treatment and self-care factors, physician recommendation for pen use, perceptions of pen convenience, clinical efficacy, facilitation of self-care, cost, patient reasons for terminating pen use, and likelihood of resuming pen use among those who had terminated use. Results: Current and former pen users rated the pen higher (P < 0.05) than vial and syringe on convenience, efficacy, facilitation of self-care, and cost, except for former users' ratings of cost. Current pen users rated pens higher (P < 0.05) than former users on all these measures. In addition to more positive pen perceptions, multivariate analysis showed that current users were more likely (P < 0.05) than former users to have received a pen recommendation from their physician, have better insurance coverage, and be working. Cost was the major reason reported for terminating pen use. Self-assessed likelihood of resuming pen use was higher (P < 0.05) among those with longer duration of pen use and more positive perceptions of pen cost and convenience. Conclusions: Results suggest that physician recommendations of pen use, patient perceptions of pens, and cost and insurance coverage of pens may play an important role in persistence of pen use. Among former pen users, duration of pen use and perceptions of pens may be important factors in likelihood of patients' resuming pen use.