RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 The Feasibility and Practical Utility of Virtual Visits for Patients with Parkinson's Disease in Different World Regions
A1 García Bustillo, Álvaro
A1 Youn, Jinyoung
A1 Ahn, Jong Hyeon
A1 Ojo, Oluwadamilola
A1 Okubadejo, Njideka
A1 Aldaajani, Zakiyah
A1 Essam, Mohamed
A1 Shalash, Ali
A1 Cardozo, Adriana
A1 Spindler, Meredith
A1 Mari, Zoltan
A1 Cubo Delgado, Esther
K1 Telemedicine
K1 Parkinson's disease
K1 Multidisciplinary team
K1 Telemedicina
K1 Telecommunication in medicine
K1 Enfermedad de Parkinson
K1 Parkinson's disease
AB Background: Overcoming existing access barriers is crucial for better-specialized health care ofpatients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).ObjectiveObjective: The aim of the study was to compare the access and visit quality/acceptability between in-office andvirtual telemedicine visits.MethodsMethods: This was an international, randomized, case-control, prospective, observational study. Patients wererandomly assigned either to the control group (in-person/in-office visits at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months) or tothe study group (in-office visits at baseline, 6, and 12 months, and telemedicine visits at 3 and 9 months).Telemedicine visits were conducted using videoconferencing apps that were readily accessible to the patient/caregivers. Outcomes were feasibility, usability, and the noninferiority of telemedicine compared to in-officevisits in PD patients regarding clinical progression and initiation of pharmacological/nonpharmacologicaltreatments over 1-year follow-up.ResultsResults: We included 209 PD patients from 6 countries (Nigeria, Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Egypt, andUruguay), mean age 64.9   12.2 years, 59% males, median Hoehn & Yahr stage 2 (1–4). Overall, diseaseprogression (MDS-Unified PD rating scale), quality of life (PD-Quality of life 39-items) scores, and therapeuticchanges were similar in both groups. After 1 year, 124 patients 48.3%, (control group) and 52.1% (study group)completed the visits (P = 0.52), with a similar high rate of patient’s satisfaction with the visits (P = 0.57).ConclusionsConclusions: This study represents real-world telemedicine practice in different world regions using atelemedicine approach complementary to in-person visits. Based on these results, feasibility, clinicalmanagement, PD disease progression, and patient’s quality of life are similar when using telemedicine versusin-office visits. Future research should explore ways to integrate different healthcare technologies for long-termPD management.
PB Wiley
SN 2330-1619
YR 2026
FD 2026-02
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11607
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11607
LA eng
NO Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos
RD 01-jun-2026