Objective: To examine how eHealth may improve personalized care for people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) from the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) has become a prevalent neurodegenerative disease associated with impaired mobility, severely limiting access to medical care for PwPD. eHealth technologies present a promising solution to bridge geographic distances between HCPs and PwPDs and to provide tailored healthcare, particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the potential benefits, the integration of these technologies into routine care in Germany faces challenges and barriers that have yet to be fully understood.

Method: A qualitative study involving nine participant observations and 19 semi-structured interviews with HCPs was conducted to assess the utilization and acceptance of an eHealth wearable device for PD monitoring. Discussions between physicians and PwPDs regarding recorded movement parameters were analyzed to understand communication patterns and treatment decisions. The attitudes of HCPs towards the eHealth device were evaluated using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework, and barriers, concerns, and facilitators for successful eHealth adoption were explored. Data analysis employed qualitative content analysis and MAXQDA software.

Results: Observations revealed primarily dialogic communication between HCPs and PwPDs, with active participation of PwPDs in discussions and interest in movement data. Approximate equality was noted, with PwPD actively involved in data interpretation and treatment decisions. Interviews revealed various aspects of eHealth technologies in PD care, such as improved access to care, diagnostic improvements, personalized care, and the usage of wearables in PD management. Furthermore, barriers and concerns associated with eHealth adoption were explored, including social factors, data security issues and disease-related challenges.

Conclusion: Our study highlights eHealth’s role in enhancing personalized care for PwPDs according to HCPs. eHealth fosters communication between HCPs and PwPDs, encouraging engagement in movement data interpretation. Despite its potential for enhancing care access, diagnosis, and personalized treatment, barriers such as social, security, and practical concerns must be addressed for widespread adoption in clinical practice.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/ehealth-an-opportunity-for-personalized-care-healthcare-professionals-technology-acceptance-in-the-care-of-parkinsons-patients/