Virtual care could be effective part of treatment plan for people with Parkinson's in BC Interior: study

Virtual healthcare could be an effective part of treatment plans for people with Parkinson’s disease, new research from UBC has shown.

Dakota Peacock, a fourth-year student on the Kelowna-based UBC Southern Medical Program, led the study, which has been published in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences.

It found that 80% of participants in the study showed a willingness to use telehealth for follow-up appointments as part of their Parkinson’s treatment.

“The focus of our study was to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Parkinson’s patients within [the] Interior Health region in accessing specialized care,” Peacock said.

Telehealth could be of particular importance in the Interior, where the geography lends itself to isolation and long travelling times, the study’s authors explained.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a “dramatic increase” in the need for telehealth treatment options, the study explained.

But Dr. Daryl Wile, a neurologist with the Okanagan Movement Disorder Clinic and the study’s co-author, said he is aware the effectiveness of telehealth for Parkinson’s patients is yet to be established.

“To use telemedicine for people with Parkinson’s disease we need to understand how we can adapt the tools we have to the many different types of symptoms they may be facing,” said Dr. Wile, who is a clinical assistant professor with the SMP based at UBC Okanagan.

The main challenges for providing care for Parkinson’s patients, the study explained, are accessing specialized care close to home and the financial and emotional burden borne by caregivers.

“It’s encouraging that we could potentially minimize some of the barriers and stressors for Parkinson’s patients in accessing care, but fully recognize there is no one-size-fits-all approach,” said Peacock.