Designing a Speech-Based Decision Support Tool for Parkinson’s Disease in Integrated Care

Abstract

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that requires timely intervention to manage symptoms and prevent deterioration. This study investigates the essential requirements for a speech-based decision support tool to monitor PD progression in a community-integrated care setting. While still at an early design stage, the envisioned tool may take the form of mobile or desktop software accessible to patients, carers, and professionals in home and clinical settings. A mixed-methods approach, including surveys (n=31), focus groups (n=12), interviews (n=11), and policy document analysis, was used to gather insights from health and social care staff in Wales. Four major themes emerged: essential technical requirements (reliability, ease of use), workforce needs (training, analytic transparency), patient considerations (preferences, privacy), and systemic integration (interoperability, funding). Findings highlight the potential of speech-based AI systems for early, objective detection of PD deterioration. However, clinician trust, digital literacy, and user-centered design remain critical for adoption. Co-design with people with PD (PwPD), carers, and staff is strongly recommended for future development and evaluation. This study contributes to the growing field of intelligent systems in digital health and decision support.