Physician survey finds varied understanding of intravitreal aflibercept safety

A follow-up survey conducted among physicians in the European Union highlighted varying levels of understanding regarding the safe use of intravitreal aflibercept (IVT-AFL), despite the distribution of educational materials.

Although a majority of physicians reported receiving key materials, such as the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) and the Prescriber Guide, the survey highlighted the need for further refinement in educational strategies.

The initial survey (‘wave 1’) focused on evaluating the effectiveness of IVT-AFL educational materials distributed to physicians in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Based on the findings of wave 1, the materials were refined to concentrate on critical aspects, including the use in women of childbearing potential and procedural information.

Among the 4715 physicians invited to participate in the follow-up survey, 454 responded. The majority of respondents reported having received the IVT-AFL SmPC (89%) and the Prescriber Guide (82%). In addition, more than half acknowledged receiving the Injection Procedure Video (54%) and Patient Booklet (65%).

The survey results revealed that the highest percentage of correct answers was associated with questions concerning procedural steps, the most important risks, and safe usage, aligning with the emphasis in both the educational materials and the SmPC.

The results underscore the importance of focusing on key messages and pretesting materials with end users to ensure optimal comprehension and retention of critical safety information.

Reference
Zografos LJ, Andrews E, Wolin DL, et al. Evaluation of Physician Knowledge of Safety and Safe Use Information for Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection in Europe: A Second Survey of Physicians Following Dissemination of Updated Risk-Minimization Materials. Pharmaceut Med. 2023;doi: 10.1007/s40290-023-00506-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38049618.