User preference for a portable syringe pump for iloprost infusion

Figures & data

Table 1 Questionnaire administered to patients

Item	Mean score	Frequency (%)
		10	9	8	7	5	NA
1. How would you rate your overall experience with the new device?	9.9±0.4	94.1	2.9	2.9	0	0	0
2. Do you think that the administration with the new device is safe?	9.6± 1.8	91.2	0	5.9	0	0	2.9
3. How do you judge the tolerability of the drug administered with the new device?	9.0±2.4	70.6	8.8	8.8	5.9	0	5.9
4. How would you rate the ease of use of the new device?	9.9±0.2	97.0	2.9	0	0	0	0
5. How do you perceive your state of health with the new device?	8.5±2.9	64.7	2.9	20.6	0	2.9	8.8
6. How would you rate the new device in comparison with the previous one?	9.9±0.2	97.0	2.9	0	0	0	0
7. Do you think that the freedom of movement allowed by the new device is important?	9.7± 1.7	97.0	0	0	0	0	2.9
8. How would you rate the performance of daily activities (eg, eating, using the toilet, etc) with the new device?	9.7± 1.7	97.0	0	0	0	0	2.9
9. In future, if you had the chance, would you choose the new device?	9.4±2.4	94.1	0	0	0	0	5.9

Notes: For each item, the average score ± standard deviation and frequency of each score that received at least one answer are reported. Scores equal to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 were not registered in any case, therefore, the respective frequencies were not reported in the table. NA indicates the case of nonavailable response, which was considered equal to 0 for the calculation of the mean score.

Figure 1 Alaris^® injection pump (left) and Infonde^® pump (right).

Table 2 Baseline characteristics of the study population (N=34)

Diagnosis	SSc alone in 19 pts (56%) SSc overlap with UCTD in 9 pts (26.50%) SSc overlap with MCTD in 1 pt (2.90%) SSc overlap with Sjögren’s in 2 pts (5.90%) SSc overlap with APS in 1 pt (2.90%) SSc overlap with Buerger’s in 1 pt (2.90%) SSc overlap with SLE in 1 pt (2.90%)
Mean age (years) ± SD	55.79±12.72
Sex (male/female [%])	7/27 (20.5/79.5)
Ethnicity	Caucasian 100%
Mean disease duration (years) ± SD	9.29±4.65
Mean iloprost therapy duration (years) ± SD	5.90±2.98
No of patients with history or presence of digital ulcers (%)	7 (20.5)
No of patients receiving bosentan (%)	3 (8.8)
No of patients in current or previous DMARD therapy (steroids, MTX, CYC, CsA, AZA, colchicine, Hydroxychloroquine) for SSc (%)	27 (79.4)
No of patients in emoreologic or antiplatelet or peripheral vasodilatator therapy (aspirin and pentoxifylline, calcium-antagonist) (%)	21 (62)

Abbreviations: APS, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome; AZA, azathioprine; Buerger’s, Buerger’s disease; CsA, cyclosporine; CYC, cyclophosphamide; DMARD, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug; MCTD, mixed connective tissue disease; MTX, methotrexate; pts, patients; SD, standard deviation; Sjögren’s, Sjögren’s syndrome; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus; SSc, scleroderma; UCTD, undifferentiated connective tissue disease.