The GOLD-PCP Study: Clinician Insights on Person-Centric Packaging Design of a Triple Fixed-Dose Combination in Type 2 Diabetes Care

TL;DR

This study explores how clinicians in India perceive the benefits of person-centric packaging for a diabetes medication, finding it improves adherence and simplifies treatment.

Contribution

The study provides novel insights into clinician perceptions of person-centric packaging's impact on diabetes care and adherence.

Findings

Clinicians reported improved patient adherence, therapy simplification, and medication identification with the FDC and PCP.

The floral PCP design was linked to increased patient preference and reduced pharmacy substitution and missed doses.

A strong correlation was found between reduced pill burden and improved adherence perceptions.

Abstract

Introduction: Medication adherence remains a significant challenge in managing type 2 diabetes, particularly for patients on long-term polypharmacy. Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) may improve adherence by reducing pill burden, while person-centric packaging (PCP) aims to enhance ease of use and identification. The GOLD-PCP study explored clinician perceptions of PCP’s impact on adherence and treatment management in diabetes care.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 262 clinicians from India who had been prescribing this FDC with PCP for at least six months. Clinician perceptions were assessed through a validated 12-item questionnaire administered following structured round-table meetings. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation in IBM Corp. Released 2021. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.

Results: Clinicians perceived improvements in patient adherence (83.2%), therapy simplification (82.1%), and medication identification (82.0%). Most (80.9%) believed the FDC helped reduce pill burden. The floral PCP design was perceived as helpful in increasing patient preference (78.6%), reducing pharmacy substitution (80.1%), and lowering missed doses (80.2%). A strong correlation was observed between perceived pill burden reduction and perceived adherence improvement (r = 0.883, p < 0.001).

Limitations: This study assessed clinician perceptions only and did not include direct patient-level adherence measurements, objective adherence data, or patient-reported outcomes.

Conclusion: Clinicians perceived PCP as beneficial for adherence support and therapy management in type 2 diabetes. However, further patient-centered studies using objective adherence metrics are needed to validate these perceptions and determine causal relationships between packaging design and adherence outcomes.

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