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Between empowerment and new barriers - ethical, legal, social and medical implications of mHealth technologies in the use of Parkinson's disease patients

Mobile health technologies (mHealth) offer the advantage of being able to objectively measure motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) remotely. However, despite growing evidence from studies on the feasibility of wearable data collection, user satisfaction and patient acceptability, there is little documented qualitative research describing patients' perspectives and attitudes towards these technologies.

The aim of the planned study is to investigate the willingness of people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) to use mHealth technologies, as well as their rejection of these technologies. PD Neurotechnology's PDMonitor® will be the central element of the research project. The PDMonitor® can be used to measure several movement parameters. These include Activity, posture, bradykinesia, gait, arm and leg tremor, postural instability, dyskinesia and duration of off and on dyskinesia phases. Patients have the opportunity to view their own data using an app.

This research project will investigate whether patients perceive these technologies as contributing to empowerment, and what social, legal and ethical motives patients cite for using or rejecting the mHealth technology presented. Although there are a number of technology acceptance models, there is currently no model that integrates the categories of illness or disability. The research project aims to fill this gap.

The study follows a mixed methods approach. Quantitatively, neuropsychological tests will be used to assess patients' health status. Qualitative semi-structured interviews will be used to assess patients' acceptance of the technology, as well as their social, ethical and legal motivations for using the technology, but also their rejection of it.

Contact

Mrs. Viktoria Fleckenstein und Mr. Jonas Hohn
Telefone: 06421/58 - 65299
Fax: 06421/58 - 67055
fleckenv@students.*

Mrs. Johanne Stümpel, M.Sc.
Telefon: 06421/58 - 65299
Telefax: 06421/58 - 67055

* please add ".uni-marburg.de" for the complete e-mail address.