Category: Parkinson's Disease (Other)
Objective: This study aims to qualitatively evaluate the impact of switching from the conventional Levodopa-Carbidopa-Intestinal-Gel (LCIG) pump to the smaller sized Levodopa-Entacapone-Carbidopa-Intestinal-Gel (LECIG) pump on quality of life, activities of daily living, sociability, usability and treatment satisfaction from the perspectives of patients and their caregivers.
Background: The LECIG pump represents a technological advancement in device-aided therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Existing clinical research has primarily focused on the efficacy and safety of the LECIG infusion in managing motor symptoms. However, limited research has explored how the smaller infusion pump may influence the everyday lived experiences of patients and their carers. Understanding how device design affects usability, daily functioning, and quality of life is essential to evaluate the broader impact of such device-aided therapies.
Method: This prospective mixed-methods study will involve semi-structured interviews with patients transitioning from the LCIG pump to the LECIG pump and their carers where appropriate. Interviews will be conducted at two time points: (T1) at pump initiation to capture baseline experiences with prior LCIG therapy, and (T2) three months post-switch to explore longer-term usability, perceived changes in quality of life and overall treatment experience. Healthcare professionals involved in pump initiation will also be interviewed to provide insights into clinical implementation. Interview transcripts will be analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive approach to identify patterns in participant experiences. Quantitative measures will also be collected at T1 and T2 and will include the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale, Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-8, Hoehn and Yahr scale and Hauser diaries.
Results: The study will generate a comprehensive qualitative account of patient and carer experiences to understand how device design and usability influence quality of life, daily functioning, and treatment satisfaction.
Conclusion: Findings will complement existing clinical evidence on LECIG therapy and inform patient-centred implementation of portable infusion technologies.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
K. O'Hara, A. Whone, A. O'Kane, T. Chimonas, H. Banos-Smith. Understanding the Impact of the Small Scale Levodopa-Entacapone-Carbidopa-Intestinal-Gel Pump on Everyday Experiences of People Living with Parkinson’s Disease: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/understanding-the-impact-of-the-small-scale-levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa-intestinal-gel-pump-on-everyday-experiences-of-people-living-with-parkinsons-disease-a-mixed-methods-evaluation/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/understanding-the-impact-of-the-small-scale-levodopa-entacapone-carbidopa-intestinal-gel-pump-on-everyday-experiences-of-people-living-with-parkinsons-disease-a-mixed-methods-evaluation/