Feasibility and usability of a non-immersive virtual reality tele-cognitive app in cognitive rehabilitation of patients affected by Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the most common non-motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability/usability of a protocol using a non-immersive virtual reality tele-cognitive app, performed remotely in a sample of Italian patients with PD.

Methods: Non-demented patients with mild PD were included in the study. Patients performed the cognitive rehabilitation in a remote way, at home (three training sessions lasting 20 min/week for 6 weeks) using the NeuroNation app, downloaded for free on the patients' smartphones. The usability and feasibility of the tele-cognitive rehabilitation program were assessed with the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS).

Results: Sixteen patients (9 men and 7 women; mean age 58.4 ± 8.3 years; mean disease duration 4.6 ± 2.1 years) were included in the study. At the end of the study, the mean SUS was 83.4 ± 11.5. The GAS score recorded at the end of the study (65.6 ± 4.2) was significantly higher than at baseline (38.5 ± 2.4; P-value <0.001).

Conclusion: In our sample, good feasibility and usability were observed for a 6-week cognitive rehabilitation protocol based on the non-immersive virtual reality tele-cognitive app NeuroNation. Our data support the usefulness of cognitive rehabilitation performed in a remote way in PD patients.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; cognitive rehabilitation; feasibility; mobile health; smartphone app; usability.