Background/Purpose: Home infusion therapy is an established alternative site of care for patients requiring administration of infusion medications through a needle or catheter. Supported by clinically trained pharmacists and nurses, this model allows patients to receive therapy in their homes and has been associated with improved quality of life, reduced disruption to daily activities, and comparable clinical outcomes to traditional care settings. This study assessed patient perceptions of home infusion therapy, across diverse rheumatologic demographics, clinical status, race, level of education, and geographical location. The survey evaluated clinical experiences and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) domains (e.g., financial impact, access to care, cultural sensitivity, emotional well-being, and safety).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a random 10% sample (N&#3f300) of a national home infusion provider’s patient population. From that sample, 24 rheumatologic patients completed the nurse-administered survey between April and July 2024. Inclusion criteria required active infusion under company-employed nurses. Patient conditions included Myositis (N&#3f 19), Myopathy (N =1), Lupus (N&#3f1), Rheumatoid Arthritis (N&#3f2), Sjögren’s Syndrome (N&#3f1). Survey responses were captured using Likert-scale and binary (“Yes/No”) formats, with Likert-scale results summarized using median, interquartile range (IQR), and % of top anchor. The survey assessed accessibility, awareness, safety, financial impact, cultural awareness, mood improvement, and overall impression of home infusion therapy.

Results: The cohort included 83% females and 17% males, with a mean age of 54 (18-83). Immunoglobulin therapy represented 96% of patients and biologic therapies 4% (Table 1). Patients overwhelmingly perceived home infusion as cost- and timesaving (median = 10, IQR (1,3): 10,10), with 88% citing strong financial benefits. Accessibility barriers, such as transportation or caregiver availability, were noted by a minority. Patients reported high confidence in the safety of home infusions (median = 10, IQR (1,3): 10,10), and 83% found the therapy easy to access. Mood improvement was substantial when home infusion was compared to traveling to a hospital/infusion center for treatment (median = 10, IQR (1,3): 10,10), and 92% “very much so” felt home infusion positively impacted their emotional well-being. Cultural understanding by healthcare staff was rated variably; while 71% felt culturally understood, 29% did not. While 75% reported that home infusion “very much so” helped with the understanding of one’s culture. Patients reported a strong preference for home infusion due to convenience and reduced exposure risk compared to infusion centers (Figure 1 and Table 2).

Conclusion: Home infusion therapy is highly valued by rheumatology patients, for its financial, work-life balance, mental health, and safety-related advantages. These findings support the need for broader adoption and education about home infusion as a patient-centered care model aligned with holistic health outcomes in rheumatologic patients.

Demographics of patients

Percentages of Survey Responses

Median Values and % of Top Anchor Reponses

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/impact-of-social-determinants-of-health-on-patient-perceptions-of-home-infusion-therapy-in-the-treatment-of-rheumatologic-conditions/