Purpose: The acceptability of emerging intravitreal therapies for GA (that can slow down, but not stop or reverse, GA progression) is currently unknown. This study therefore aimed to: investigate whether regular intravitreal injections will be acceptable as treatment for GA patients; identify which attributes of current treatments in late stage development patients find less acceptable; and explore whether patient-related factors influence GA treatment acceptability.
Design: Exploratory, cross-sectional, mixed-methods study.
Participants: 30 UK-based individuals with GA secondary to AMD, recruited from two London-based hospitals, interviewed in April-October 2021.
Methods: Participants responded to a structured questionnaire, as well as open-ended questions in a semi-structured interview. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric measures of correlation. Qualitative data were analysed using the Framework Method of analysis, using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability to guide deductive analysis.
Main outcome measures: Main quantitative measures were Likert-type scale responses about acceptability of GA treatments. Qualitative outcomes of interest related to participants' hopes, concerns and understanding of the proposed new intravitreal treatments for GA.
Results: Twenty participants (67%) were female, and median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 83 (78, 87) years. 37% of participants had centre-involving GA, and better eye median (IQR) logMAR visual acuity was 0.30 (0.17, 0.58).
Data suggested that 18 participants (60% (95% CI: 41-79%)) would accept the treatment at any cost, despite their awareness of the drawbacks. Eight participants (27% (95% CI: 10-43%) were ambivalent or undecided about treatment, and four (13%) (95% CI: 0-26%)) would be unlikely to accept treatment.
Qualitative data indicated that participants' prioritisation of continuation with vision-specific activities influenced treatment acceptability. Conversely, factors limiting acceptability clustered around: the limited magnitude of treatment efficacy; concerns about side effects or the increased risk of neovascular AMD; and the logistical burden of regular clinic visits for intravitreal injections. There were common misunderstandings regarding the likely effects of GA treatment.
Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that a majority of participants would be positive about intravitreal treatment for GA, even in spite of manifold burdens and inconveniences. Insights from this study will inform the development of a larger, UK-wide quantitative study on GA treatment acceptability.