Impact Of Smartphone Apps in Caregiver Training for Rehabilitation of Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease – A Systematic Review

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor impairments such as bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, and postural instability, as well as non-motor dysfunctions. These impairments significantly affect daily activities and quality of life, necessitating caregiver assistance in rehabilitation. Smartphone-based interventions have been explored as a means to enhance caregiver competence and facilitate PD rehabilitation. Objective This systematic review examines the effectiveness of smartphone-based interventions in improving caregiver training for PD rehabilitation. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed andCochrane Library for studies published in English. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews and experimental studies assessing smartphone-based caregiver training interventions for PD rehabilitation. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results Findings indicate that interactive educational content, real-time monitoring and telemedicine support significantly enhance caregiver competence and patient rehabilitation. Key effective features include:Personalized feedback, Remote expert consultation and Gamification elements. However, challenges such as technology accessibility, digital literacy barriers and the lack of standardized outcome measures limit widespread adoption. Conclusion Smartphone-based interventions show promise in enhancing caregiver training and improving patient care in PD rehabilitation. Further research is needed to optimize usability, address technological limitations and promote equitable access to maximize their effectiveness in PD management. Categories: Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Neurology and Neurorehabilitation, Mobile health (mHealth), Telemedicine and Assistive technology, Healthcare innovation and technology Adoption