Journal of Personalized Medicine · 5 authors, 3 centres
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This study evaluated patient and nurse satisfaction with the I-Jet infusion pump for subcutaneous treprostinil self-administration in 13 PAH patients over 2 months. 76.9% of patients found the pump easy and convenient to live with, and all patients reported full compliance and confidence in using the device. The findings support the routine use of the I-Jet pump, highlighting its ease of use, safety, and minimal training requirements.
**Background:** Parenteral prostacyclins, particularly subcutaneous treprostinil, are a cornerstone of PAH therapy, associated with clinical and hemodynamic improvement and survival benefit. However, evidence on patient perceptions of handling subcutaneous infusion pumps and nurse views on training is limited. The I-Jet infusion pump (Everaid, South Korea) is a CE-marked pump designed exclusively for subcutaneous treprostinil administration, with features aimed at improving ease of use and patient comfort.
**Methods:** This open, observational, prospective, single-center, non-interventional study was conducted at the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Diseases, John Paul II Hospital, Krakow, Poland. All patients had their pumps changed from Apex to I-Jet due to a hospital provider substitution via public tender in mid-2021. Eligible patients were adults (>18 years) with established PAH, on stable subcutaneous treprostinil with no worsening in the prior 3 months. Exclusion criteria included serious disease contraindicating participation, psychological/physical conditions affecting pump self-management, and being under legal protection. Thirteen patients were enrolled between August and October 2021. Data were collected at baseline (visit 1), a 1-month telephone follow-up (visit 2), and an 8-week on-site visit (visit 3). Instruments included the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ, 30 items), Patient Benefit and Education Questionnaire (PBEQ, 17 items), and the Cambridge Pulmonary Hypertension Outcome Review (CAMPHOR). A trainer nurse with 20 years' experience provided training and was interviewed at study end. Descriptive statistics were used.
**Key Results:** The mean patient age was 50.8 (SD 14.4) years; 69.2% were female. PAH etiologies were congenital heart disease (46.2%) and idiopathic PAH (38.4%). At baseline, 53.8% were WHO class II and 46.2% were WHO class III. Median time from PAH diagnosis was 7 years; median time on treprostinil was 13 months. Mean 6MWD was 380 (SD 129) m at visit 1 and 375 (SD 131) m at visit 3. Overall, 76.9% of patients were satisfied with the I-Jet pump. Regarding physical characteristics, 69.2% were satisfied with style/design, 53.8% with size/weight, 76.9% with keyboard usability, 76.9% with battery access, and 84.6% with syringe compartment access. For usability, 92.3% were satisfied with water resistance and precise flow rate settings (0.001 mL steps); 69.2% with easy access to settings menu; 69.2% with software interface design; 84.6% with syringe handling; and 92.3% with battery change. Only one patient reported an occlusion alarm; none required hospital visits or pump replacement. All 13 patients (100%) reported full compliance and confidence. 70% stated the pump did not hinder daily activities. 84.6% reported good control of SC administration. 69.2% changed infusion sites every 3–4 weeks. 76.9% found the device easy/convenient to live with and would choose it in the future. CAMPHOR scores showed no change from baseline, indicating maintained quality of life. For training, 69.2% were satisfied with instructions and materials; 76.9% with the operating manual. All 13 patients (100%) considered initial training appropriate; 61.6% found learning easy; none required re-training. No MDIs or ADRs were reported. The trainer nurse confirmed ease of training and high patient satisfaction.
**Clinical Implications:** This preliminary study demonstrates that PAH patients switching to the I-Jet infusion pump for subcutaneous treprostinil report high satisfaction, full compliance, and confidence in self-management. The pump's convenience, ease of use, safety profile, and minimal training requirements may reduce hospital visits and support routine clinical use. The findings align with the importance of patient satisfaction and device usability in improving adherence and quality of life in chronic PAH management. Limitations include the small sample size (n=13), single-center design, lack of comparator, short follow-up (2 months), and use of non-validated questionnaires. Larger, controlled studies with longer follow-up are warranted.