Abstract
Objectives:
To describe real-world clinical practice patterns among U.S.-based healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding the use of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) in the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
Methods:
A cross-sectional, online, double-blinded survey was conducted among a panel of HCPs, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, with ≥3 years of experience treating EPI and recent PERT prescribing activity. The survey collected de-identified data on HCP demographics, aggregated patient characteristics, PERT prescribing patterns, and follow-up practices. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data.
Results:
Of the 354 HCPs screened, 250 completed the survey. Participants were mainly physicians (88%), predominantly in private practice (69%), with an average of 20 years of clinical experience. Initial PERT doses prescribed were
Conclusion:
Real-world PERT prescribing for EPI in the U.S. frequently falls short of guideline-recommended dosing and follow-up is often delayed. Providing patients with instructions snack dosing and early reassessment represent gaps in EPI care, underscoring the importance of HCP training and education to optimize outcomes of EPI treatment.