OBJECTIVES: This study assessed patient and clinician satisfaction with three pharmacological stress agents (PSAs)-- regadenoson (REG), adenosine (ADE) and dipyridamole (DIP)— used in single photon emission computerized tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI), a non-invasive imaging test commonly used for the diagnosis and assessment of coronary artery disease.

METHODS: This multisite, non-interventional, non-randomized study involved patients undergoing PSA-facilitated SPECT-MPI and clinicians administering or assisting in the test. Patients completed two patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaires: the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ), to assess satisfaction with services provided at the site, and the Patient Satisfaction and Preference Questionnaire (PSPQ), to assess satisfaction specifically with the PSA. Clinicians completed one of two clinician-reported outcome (ClinRO) questionnaires: the Clinician Satisfaction and Preference Questionnaire (CSPQ; for physicians) or the modified CSPQ (mCSPQ; for nurses and technologists) to assess satisfaction utilizing a specific PSA. Differences on the PSPQ and PSQ between the PSAs were assessed using analysis of variance and Tukey tests. Differences on the CSPQ and mCSPQ with the PSAs were reported descriptively.

RESULTS: Across 10 sites, 291 patients (n=147, 100, and 44 with REG, ADE and DIP, respectively), and 47 clinicians (physicians n=11; nurses/technologists n=36) participated. Patients receiving REG rated their satisfaction with services experienced at the site (PSQ) more favorably relative to those receiving ADE (p<.05). There were no significant pairwise differences for PSA-related Overall Satisfaction (PSPQ), but patients rated REG more favorably relative to ADE on Satisfaction with Administration (p<.05), and DIP more favorably relative to ADE for Visit Preparation (p<.05). Clinicians reported highest satisfaction for REG on Preparation, Administration, Monitor, Side Effects, and Overall Satisfaction domains of the CSPQ and mCSPQ.

CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that clinicians and patients have quantifiable differences in satisfaction with PSAs. A cross-over clinical trial would be needed in order to measure actual preference between agents.