Work

A qualitative exploration of the low-resource tele-assisted home exercise program for balance and functional mobility in Parkinson’s disease (TELEPORT-PD)

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study explores the perspectives of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) on TELEPORT-PD, a low-resource tele-assisted home exercise program designed to improve balance and functional mobility. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with eight participants who completed a two-week feasibility trial of TELEPORT-PD, followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Codes were assigned to themes derived from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT-2) model. All participants reported positive experiences, with most encountering no major challenges. Many reported improvements in daily activities and valued physiotherapist-led exercise demonstrations, considering them more beneficial than conventional physiotherapy. A few suggested minor modifications. All participants expressed willingness to continue, and most would recommend the program to others with PD. TELEPORT-PD is well accepted, with most participants reporting functional improvements. The findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample and potential response bias.

Source: PLOS Digital Health

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0001536

Authors: Arnold Fredrick D’Souza, Tumkur Shivakumar Shwetha, Dushyanth Babu Jasti, Manikandan Natarajan

Institutions: Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Symbiosis International University, Star Hospitals

Language: English

Topic: Balance, Gait, and Falls Prevention

Subfield: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,043