Objective: To develop a co-design methodology and test the usability and acceptability of three digital health technologies for people with Parkinson’s Disease (PwP)

Background: The healthcare model is shifting towards integrated care approaches. This new model requires patients to be more closely involved. The iCARE-PD project aims to address this need by developing a technology-enabled, home-based, and community-centered integrated care paradigm. A central part of this project is the co-design process of the model of care, exemplified by the active participation of patients in the design and iterative evaluation of three digital health technologies.

Method: We are conducting a multicenter-international study in five tertiary PD centres with a 2-week duration. The participants used three digital health technologies (a video-based technology, a respiratory physiotherapy system, and a sensors-based system). We adopted a mixed-methods approach to assess their usability and acceptability with the following questionnaires: SUS (System Usability Survey) and an ad hoc iCARE-PD questionnaire that evaluates the patient perspective on the envisioned use of each technology. We provide the results of one of the study interventions: a video-based technology to measure PD bradykinesia.

Results: 31 PwP used the video-based technology to measure PD bradykinesia. The technology was overall perceived with higher-than-average usability (73 in the SUS scale) and was considered user-friendly by the largest proportion of investigated subjects (86 %). Despite the user-friendliness, patients were unclear about their routine use in the future to monitor their disease based on the SUS responses. When we analyzed the acceptability of the video-based technology, a high percentage of the participants (89 %) found it pleasant to interact with it. Most participants could use it independently and will be keen on using it again.

Conclusion: Our results show the usefulness of a co-design methodology in the development of digital health technology for PD. The involvement of PD patients in the design of digital tools results in a shift to a more flexible approach to care delivery based on the mutual needs of both patients and care professionals. This initiative will hopefully help other groups incorporate a similar codesign approach early in the R&D process and develop tools adapted to patients’ and care teams’ needs.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/co-designing-digital-technologies-to-improve-clinical-care-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease/