Table 3.

Time difference in patient preparation for the administration of an intravenous versus subcutaneous therapy: in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and in breast cancer

Time components	Intravenous administration	Subcutaneous administration	Difference (mean)
In non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Patient preparation time (first time administration)*	Mean: 6.43 hours Median: 6.75 hours Standard error: 1.09 hours (95% CI: ±0.52 hours)	Mean: 6.43 hours Median: 6.75 hours Standard error: 1.09 hours (95% CI: ±0.52 hours)	–
Patient preparation time (for each cycle after first cycle)	Mean: 4.81 hours Median: 4.83 hours Standard error: 0.98 hours (95% CI: ±0.47 hours)	Mean: 1.45 hours Median: 1.33 hours Standard error: 0.46 hours (95% CI: ±0.22)	−3.3 hours (−70%)
Patient preparation time for eight cycles of therapy in hematology	Mean: 40.13 hours Median: 40.53 hours Standard error: 7.43 hours (95% CI: ±3.53 hours)	Mean: 16.58 hours Median: 14.92 hours Standard error: 3.92 hours (95% CI: ±1.86)	−23.55 hours (−59%)
In breast cancer
Patient preparation time (first time administration)	Mean: 4.5 hours Median: 4.06 hours Standard error: 1.91 hours (95% CI: ±0.94 hours)	Mean: 1.2 hours Median: 1.03 hours Standard error: 1.12 hours (95% CI: ±0.55 hours)	−3.3 hours (−73%)
Patient preparation time (for each cycle after first cycle)	Mean: 2.02 hours Median: 1.79 hours Standard error: 1.06 hours (95% CI: ±0.52 hours)		−0.8 hours (−41%)
Patient preparation time for eight cycles of therapy in oncology (breast cancer)	Mean: 38.77 hours Median: 35.0 hours Standard error: 19.22 hours (95% CI: ±9.42 hours)	Mean: 21.58 hours Median: 18.6 hours Standard error: 20.19 hours (95% CI: ±9.89 hours)	−17.19 hours (−44%)

Notes:

^*First administration with rituximab is with intravenous mode due to tolerability; administration 2–8: 3 minutes per administration (in ward). Patient preparation time includes prescription check, drug taking, drug preparation, bag labeling.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; –, not applicable.