Patient and physician satisfaction with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): are there opportunities for improvement?

BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored the satisfaction with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). AIM: The aim of this study was to assess patient and physician satisfaction with currently prescribed PPIs for patients with GERD.
METHODS: Separate online surveys were completed by 1,002 physicians and 1,013 GERD patients. Physician surveys examined satisfaction, symptom relief, long-term therapy, side-effects, breakthrough symptoms, and use of supplemental medications with PPIs. Patient surveys evaluated PPI regimen, length of therapy, satisfaction with PPI, symptom relief, use of supplemental medications, and perceptions about long-term use and side-effects.
RESULTS: Most respondents were satisfied with PPI therapy, but 35.4% of GERD patients and 34.8% of physicians perceived patients as "somewhat satisfied" to "completely dissatisfied" with PPI therapy. Patients who were highly satisfied were more likely to indicate complete symptom relief (P < 0.001) relative to patients who were less satisfied. However, over 35% of patients on once-daily and 54% on twice-daily PPI indicated that therapy failed to completely relieve symptoms. Patients who were highly satisfied were more likely to recommend medication to patients with the same symptoms (P < 0.001) and less likely to report that the medication is too expensive (P < 0.001), worry about long-term use (P < 0.001), or add OTC medications for supplemental control (P < 0.004).
CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of GERD patients reported persistent symptoms and were dissatisfied with PPI therapy.