Abstract Details

Title Wearable Fitness Trackers for People with Parkinson's Disease: A Resource Informed by Experience

Topic Movement Disorders

Presentation(s) Movement Disorders Posters (7:00 AM-5:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 074

Objective We sought to quantify a range of input and experience to guide the selection process for wearable activity trackers for older adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background The Department of Neurology, with support from the Parkinson’s Foundation, has established a long-term exercise program for older individuals with PD. A key issue: “how to get more people to adopt the actions that…work” (i.e., exercise). In 2018, participants were recruited to use a physical activity tracker to potentially extend the reach and impact of the program. Results of a 10-month program were presented at �鶹��ýӳ��. Subsequently the Parkinson’s Foundation sponsored a virtual program to disseminate these results and answer questions about trackers from a national audience.

Design/Methods The Parkinson’s Foundation program, “Wearable Fitness Trackers in Parkinson’s Research,” generated a range of feedback. The presentation was focused on trackers for individuals who are older, with physical and/or cognitive challenges, and included input from a Parkinson’s Foundation Patient Research Advocate. The responses were tabulated and used to generate a decision aid that can guide the selection of a suitable tracker. This process was also informed by prior publications. The decision aid focuses on desired characteristics (e.g., waterproof), not the identification of specific devices.

Results Key findings: (1) there is widespread interest in physical activity trackers in the PD community; (2) many potential users have limited technical experience; (3) many have physical and/or cognitive challenges; (4) ease of use is key (for example, regular charging can be a challenge); (5) cost is a consideration; (6) negative experience with tracker technology is common; (7) there is limited choice of suitable devices. The decision aid takes these factors into account.

Conclusions There is widespread interest in physical activity trackers within the PD community. This decision aid addresses device selection, an essential first step to any deployment or evaluation of this technology.

Authors/Disclosures
Sarah Ingersoll, RN, PHN (University of Southern California) PRESENTER	Ms. Ingersoll has nothing to disclose.
Kenneth Hayashida	Kenneth Hayashida has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file