Virtual coach and telerehabilitation for Parkinson´s disease patients: vCare system

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Aim: The vCare system is a virtual coach that involves physical and cognitive telerehabilitation and a daily life monitoring system. This pilot study aims to evaluate the vCare pilot test for Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and to analyze the usability and the satisfaction level of patients and their quality of life (QoL). Subject and methods: Twenty PD patients were randomized, 10 patients into the vCare group focused on personalized home telerehabilitation [motor and cognitive rehabilitation (4 days/week for 4 months)], while the control group (10 patients) continued the clinical standard at the clinic. A pre-post clinical evaluation and a cost-utility study were performed. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant improvement in the PD vCare group compared to the control group (p<.05). Specifically, the PD vCare group showed significant improvement in cognition (p=.016), and QoL dimensions of mobility (p=.008), self-care (p=.008), daily activities (p=.010) and pain/discomfort (p=.004) at post-treatment. vCare PD patients showed high adherence to the vCare system (90.5-100%). Costs per patient in the control group were higher (€5,108.26) than in the vCare group (€2,243.07). Conclusion: The PD vCare group significantly increase their QoL, cognition, motor symptoms, and daily life activities compared to the control group. Patients showed high adherence to the vCare coach, the care plan, rehabilitation, and devices. The vCare system seems to be an optimal and cost-effective tool for telerehabilitation in PD.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Journal Journal of public health : from theory to practice
Publication statusPublished - 13 Nov 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0003-2065-8523/work/146641605
ORCID /0000-0002-6513-9017/work/146646323
Scopus 85176374988
Mendeley 9017d9be-0139-38ac-b135-f4cd4c3790b3

Keywords

Keywords

  • Parkinson’s diseases1, Pilot test2, Quality of life3, Telerehabilitation4, vCare5