Objective: To evaluate participation trends, certification rates, case-level difficulty, and item-level performance patterns over five years.
Background: The MDS-UPDRS Part III is a core outcome measure in Parkinson’s disease clinical practice and trials. The certification program developed by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society aims to standardize motor assessment at a global level. However, large-scale longitudinal performance data have not been systematically described.
Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis of certification rating of the MDS-UPDRS part III completed between 2019 and 2023. Administrative data and item-level results were analyzed. To reduce bias from repeated attempts, analyses were restricted to the first examination attempt per user per year. We used descriptive statistics to report participation and pass rates.
Results: During 2019-2023, 8,225 certifications were issued. At first attempt, the failure level was high (84,46%), highlighting a need for information review. In the cohort that passed at first attempt (n=1278), absolute figure here (33%) were MDS members, while in the cohort that failed at first attempt the percentage of members was lower (21%). Number of certifications increased steadily over time. Repeat attempts were common (>80%), reflecting sustained engagement in calibration.
Case-level difficulty was consistent across years. During 2021-2022, Case 2 showed the lowest failure rate (20,2%), whereas Case 4 had a 44,9 % failure rate. Item-level analysis revealed recurrent difficulty in limb bradykinesia tasks, tremor severity facial expression, and speech. Year-to-year differences were small, indicating stable performance patterns.
Conclusion: Over five years, the MDS-UPDRS certification program demonstrated increasing global uptake and reproducible difficulty patterns. Identification of consistently challenging domains provides direction for refining training content and highlights the importance of reliable motor assessment in multicenter clinical trials.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
C. Falup-Pecurariu, C. Akbostanci, E. Bayram, I. Estrada-Bellmann, J. Ma, T. Mestre, I. Murasan, O. Ojo, P. Pal, M. Qamar, F. Rodriguez-Porcel, A. Sanchez Ferro. Global Performance Patterns in the MDS-UPDRS Motor Certification Program: A five-year Analysis [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2026; 41 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/global-performance-patterns-in-the-mds-updrs-motor-certification-program-a-five-year-analysis/. Accessed October 1, 2026.« Back to 2026 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/global-performance-patterns-in-the-mds-updrs-motor-certification-program-a-five-year-analysis/