Patient Experience and Feasibility of a Remote Monitoring System in Parkinson's Disease

Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2024 Oct;11(10):1223-1231. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.14169. Epub 2024 Jul 26.

Abstract

Background: Remote monitoring systems have the potential to measure symptoms and treatment effects in people with Parkinson's disease (PwP) in the home environment. However, information about user experience and long-term compliance of such systems in a large group of PwP with relatively severe PD symptoms is lacking.

Objective: The aim was to gain insight into user experience and long-term compliance of a smartwatch (to be worn 24/7) and an online dashboard to report falls and receive feedback of data.

Methods: We analyzed the data of the "Bringing Parkinson Care Back Home" study, a 1-year observational cohort study in 200 PwP with a fall history. User experience, compliance, and reasons for noncompliance were described. Multiple Cox regression models were used to identify determinants of 1-year compliance.

Results: We included 200 PwP (mean age: 69 years, 37% women), of whom 116 (58%) completed the 1-year study. The main reasons for dropping out of the study were technical problems (61 of 118 reasons). Median wear time of the smartwatch was 17.5 h/day. The online dashboard was used by 77% of participants to report falls. Smartphone possession, shorter disease duration, more severe motor symptoms, and less-severe freezing and balance problems, but not age and gender, were associated with a higher likelihood of 1-year compliance.

Conclusions: The 1-year compliance with this specific smartwatch was moderate, and the user experience was generally good, except battery life and data transfer. Future studies can build on these findings by incorporating a smartwatch that is less prone to technical issues.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; experience; feasibility; remote monitoring; wearable sensors.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls / prevention & control
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cohort Studies
  • Feasibility Studies*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / methods
  • Parkinson Disease* / diagnosis
  • Parkinson Disease* / therapy
  • Patient Compliance
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Smartphone
  • Telemedicine / instrumentation