Injection systems for two luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonists: a comparative assessment of administration times and nurses' perceptions.

The aim of this study was to compare the speed of administration (preparation and delivery) and nurses' perceived ease of use and relative safety of two injection systems used to administer luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonists: a depot system used to administer goserelin acetate ('Zoladex', AstraZeneca) and a vial system used to administer leuprorelin acetate ('Prostap', Wyeth). This was a randomised, crossover study with 82 volunteer nurses (50 pre-registration and 32 post-registration). All nurses were timed in the administration of both systems and all were required to assess the two systems by completing a questionnaire. Results indicate that both pre- and post-registration nurses administered the depot system in less time than the vial system. Overall mean times for administration of the depot system and the vial system were 1.70 and 3.34min, respectively. In questionnaire responses, significantly more nurses thought that the depot system had 'good safety precautions' compared with the vial system (85% versus 40%; P<0.001) and significantly more nurses also expressed a preference for the depot system (58% versus 42%; P=0.036). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that nurses prefer the one-step depot system used to administer goserelin acetate over the vial system used to administer leuprorelin acetate.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes