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Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research

Date Submitted: Jan 22, 2024
Date Accepted: Oct 10, 2024

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

An Educational Digital Tool to Improve the Implementation of Switching to a Biosimilar (Rapid Switch Trainer): Tool Development and Validation Study

Marras C, Labarga M, Ginard D, Carrascosa JM, Escudero-Contreras A, Collantes-Estevez E, de Mora F, Robles T, Romero E, Martínez R

An Educational Digital Tool to Improve the Implementation of Switching to a Biosimilar (Rapid Switch Trainer): Tool Development and Validation Study

JMIR Form Res 2024;8:e56553

DOI: 10.2196/56553

PMID: 39622680

PMCID: 11612528

Development of the “Rapid Switch Trainer”: An educational digital tool to improve the implementation of the switch to a biosimilar

  • Carlos Marras; 
  • María Labarga; 
  • Daniel Ginard; 
  • Jose Manuel Carrascosa; 
  • Alejandro Escudero-Contreras; 
  • Eduardo Collantes-Estevez; 
  • Fernando de Mora; 
  • Tamara Robles; 
  • Elisa Romero; 
  • Rafael Martínez

ABSTRACT

Background:

Switching to a biosimilar is an effective and safe practice in inflammatory diseases; however, a nocebo effect may arise as a result of the way in which the switch is communicated to a given patient.

Objective:

To design a gaming-based digital educational tool (discussion algorithm) to support the training of healthcare professionals in efficiently communicating the switch to biosimilars, minimizing the generation of a nocebo effect.

Methods:

The tool was developed based on interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders, both patients and healthcare professionals. Messages likely to either generate trust or to trigger a nocebo effect were generated on the basis of the interviews and focus groups

Results:

Major topics of discussion were the reason for change, what’s a biosimilar, quality, safety, efficacy, and cost. Based on these, a list of objections and of potential arguments were produced. Patients and healthcare professionals rated the arguments as to the possibility to evoke trust or a nocebo effect. Two sets of arguments related to “savings” and “sustainability” showed discrepant ratings between patients and healthcare professionals. Objections and arguments were organized by categories and incorporated into the tool as algorithms. The tool was then developed as a collection of clinical situations or vignettes that appear randomly to the user who then has to choose an argument to given objections. After each interaction, the tool provides feedback. The tool was further supported by an accredited medical training on biosimilar and switching.

Conclusions:

We have developed a digital training tool to improve the communication of switch to biosimilar in the clinic and prevent a nocebo effect based on broad and in-depth experiences of patients and healthcare professionals. The validation is ongoing.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Marras C, Labarga M, Ginard D, Carrascosa JM, Escudero-Contreras A, Collantes-Estevez E, de Mora F, Robles T, Romero E, Martínez R

An Educational Digital Tool to Improve the Implementation of Switching to a Biosimilar (Rapid Switch Trainer): Tool Development and Validation Study

JMIR Form Res 2024;8:e56553

DOI: 10.2196/56553

PMID: 39622680

PMCID: 11612528

Per the author's request the PDF is not available.

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