Acne Subject Preference for Pump Over Tube for Dispensing Fixed-Dose Combination Adapalene 0.1%–Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Gel

• Published in: Dermatology and therapy Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 61 - 70
• Main Author: Rueda, Maria J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Healthcare 01.06.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acne; Dermatology; Enrollments; Females; Hispanic Americans; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Original Research; Patient satisfaction; Plastic Surgery; Quality of Life Research; Adherence; Tube; Acne; Consistent; Adapalene–benzoyl peroxide (BPO); Dose; Pump; Accurate
• ISSN: 2193-8210; 2190-9172
• DOI: 10.1007/s13555-014-0054-1

Introduction Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease. Key to a patient’s success on fixed-dose adapalene–benzoyl peroxide (BPO) gel is ensuring adherence. Use of a pump system to deliver a pre-measured amount of gel with each pressure enables application of a more consistent dose vs. the tube, which should improve adherence. In the present study, we evaluate patient preference for two different containers for dispensing adapalene–BPO gel. Methods In this 15-day, open-label study, 300 subjects were asked to treat their acne using fixed-dose adapalene 0.1%–BPO 2.5% gel dispensed in either a tube or a pump once-daily for up to 7 days. At week 1, subjects switched to the alternative packaging design for the same timeframe. At the end of the treatment period, subjects were asked to complete a subject preference survey. Results Among subjects completing the survey ( n  = 291), 79.0% ( n  = 230) preferred the pump for dispensing adapalene–BPO gel and 21.0% ( n  = 61) preferred the tube ( p  < 0.001). The top three characteristics of the pump were that it was easy to use (89.0%; n  = 259/291), clean (73.2%; n  = 213/291) and convenient (69.4%; n  = 202/291). When asked to rate their experience with using the pump, 91.8% ( n  = 267/291; p  < 0.001) of subjects reported being satisfied on a self-assessment scale. The majority of subjects stated they would tell their doctor about their preference for the pump next time adapalene–BPO gel was prescribed (76.6%; n  = 223/291; p  < 0.001) and would prefer the pump if both containers cost the same amount (80.1%; n  = 233/291; p  < 0.001). Conclusion Patients prefer using a pump instead of a tube to dispense adapalene–BPO gel. This delivery mechanism helps to ensure consistent application and thus may improve patient adherence to the prescribed acne treatment regimen.