Objective: To characterize the correlation between satisfaction with medication-related information and daily levodopa dosage in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients presenting with levodopa-related complaints.
Background: Adequate medication information is essential for self-management in PD, yet many patients report significant gaps in their understanding of their treatment regimens. Whether satisfaction with medication information influences levodopa dosing patterns remains unexplored.
Method: Thirty-one PD patients were recruited by a movement disorders specialist for clinical evaluation using the Levodopa Challenge Test (LCT), indicated by a perceived lack of subjective levodopa response or the need to characterize levodopa-related side effects, including dyskinesia and non-motor symptoms. Satisfaction was assessed using the Satisfaction with Information about Medicines Scale (SIMS).
Results: The cohort (51.6% male; mean age 59.9±14.9 years) had a mean disease duration of 12.9±7.1 years and a mean daily levodopa dose of 578±403 mg. The mean SIMS score was 9.32±2.01 (maximum=17), indicating only moderate satisfaction. Notably, SIMS scores showed a significant positive correlation with daily levodopa dosage (R=0.40, p=0.038), suggesting that patients receiving higher doses reported greater satisfaction with medication information.
Conclusion: The positive association between levodopa dosage and satisfaction with medication information suggests that patients who are better informed about their treatment may tolerate dose escalation better despite experiencing side effects. Alternatively, higher-dose patients may receive more intensive clinical follow-up, increasing their exposure to medication counseling. These findings suggest targeted educational interventions to optimize medication communication and prescribing strategies in PD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. da Silva, M. Tosin, L. Silveira-Moriyama. Does Knowing More Mean Tolerating More? Satisfaction with Medication Information and Levodopa Dosage in Parkinson’s Disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/does-knowing-more-mean-tolerating-more-satisfaction-with-medication-information-and-levodopa-dosage-in-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/does-knowing-more-mean-tolerating-more-satisfaction-with-medication-information-and-levodopa-dosage-in-parkinsons-disease/