Patient views on paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly: a cross-sectional questionnaire in UK community mental health teams.

Background: Naturalistic studies examining paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly (PP3M) long-acting injection have proven PP3M to be a safe and effective maintenance treatment for patients with schizophrenia. Objectives: The aim of this study is to explore patients' views and experiences with PP3M. Design: This was a cross-sectional, non-interventional, one-time questionnaire which was designed by pharmacists in collaboration with clinicians experienced in the use of long-acting antipsychotic injections. Methods: Eligible patients were adults currently prescribed PP3M who were attending their routine long-acting injection administration appointment at their community mental health team (CMHT). Results: Of 172 patients who were due PP3M during the study period, 68 (39.5%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 31.3% found PP3M extremely helpful, 43.3% found it very helpful, 17.9% somewhat helpful, 3% slightly helpful and 4.5% not helpful at all. The majority of respondents (83.8%) preferred PP3M over PP1M, with convenience being cited as the main reason for preference (62.9%). The majority reported mild (35.4%) or no injection pain (30.8%) and no new side effects on PP3M (80.6%). For those experiencing side effects, they were largely not considered troubling (24.6%). CMHT contact remained unchanged since switching to PP3M (56.9%). In-person appointments were considered important (33.8%) or very important (35.4%). Most patients either had no preference (40.3%) or were opposed to having a monthly appointment (32.3%). When asked about preferred injection frequency, patients overwhelmingly selected the 3-monthly (62.5%) or 6-monthly option (35.9%). Conclusion: Patients generally reported high levels of satisfaction with PP3M and perceived the treatment to be helpful and well-tolerated, with most expressing a preference for PP3M compared with a 1-monthly injection.