Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a multidisciplinary telemedicine intervention program to reduce falls and to improve quality of life (QoL) in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Background: Falls in PD are very frequent, increase comorbidity, mortality, and socio-health costs, and decrease QoL. PD patients living in underserved areas have limited access to multidisciplinary interventions
Method: Ongoing, longitudinal, randomized, case-control study including non-demented PD patients with high risk of falls. Both groups were followed for 8 months. The control group received the standard best clinical practice, and the study group received weekly remote Occupational Therapy sessions and monthly teleconsultations with neurologists and nurses for 4 months. Falls were recorded through a fall’s diary, motor and non-motor symptoms, balance and quality of life were assessed with the MDS-Unified Parkinson´s Disease Rating Scale(MDS-UPDRS), wearable sensors (STAT-ON), Non-Motor Symptoms Scale(NMSS), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI-II), Lille Apathy Scale(LARS), Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOGQ) and Mini Balance Evaluation System Test(Mini-BEST Test), and EUROHIS-QOL 8 scale(WHOQOL 8), respectively. Satisfaction was assessed with the Telemedicine Usability Questionnaire(TUQ).
Results: The clinical data of the first 41 PD patients were analyzed, 20 males (48.8%) and 21 females (51.2%), mean age 69.17±9.55 years, adherence in 95% of the patients, with high satisfaction (mean TUQ score 139.13±4.34). . There were no significant differences between both groups in the incidence of falls over time. Significant improvements were found in the study group compared to the control group in NMSS(p=.024), BDI-II(p=.0001), LARS(p=.0001), FOGQ(p=.019), MDS-UPDRS (p=.042), Mini-BEST Test(p=.0001), and WHOQOL 8(p=.001) scores.
Conclusion: This multidisciplinary telemedicine intervention was feasible and effective in reducing gait freezing and motor and non-motor symptoms including depression, apathy, and in improving patient´s quality of life. Multidisciplinary telemedicine interventions represent an adjuvant clinical tool favoring greater equity in the distribution of resources and easier access to specialized health care in PD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
A. Garcia-Bustillo, FV. Valiñas Sieiro, A. Olivares, M. Jahouh, J. Gonzalez-Santos, M. Allende, JJ. Gonzalez-Bernal, A. Arnaiz-Gonzalez, J. Diez-Pastor, J. Trejo, JL. Garrido-Labrador, E. Cubo. Feasibility and efficacy of a multidisciplinary telemedicine intervention program to reduce falls and gait impairment in Parkinson’s disease (NCT04694443). [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2023; 38 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-and-efficacy-of-a-multidisciplinary-telemedicine-intervention-program-to-reduce-falls-and-gait-impairment-in-parkinsons-disease-nct04694443/. Accessed May 17, 2025.« Back to 2023 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/feasibility-and-efficacy-of-a-multidisciplinary-telemedicine-intervention-program-to-reduce-falls-and-gait-impairment-in-parkinsons-disease-nct04694443/