Table 6. Patients’ concerns regarding the need for assistive devices: Comparison of patients with early-stage versus advanced-stage PD.
| Item | All participants (n = 222) | Early-stage PD (n = 103) | Advanced-stage PD (n = 119) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walking stick | 81 (36.5%) | 29 (28.2%) | 52 (43.7%) | 0.016* |
| Laser-guided walking stick providing visual cues | 42 (18.9%) | 19 (18.4%) | 23 (19.3%) | 0.867 |
| Walker | 40 (18.0%) | 14 (13.6%) | 26 (21.8%) | 0.110 |
| Wheelchair | 57 (25.7%) | 14 (13.6%) | 43 (36.1%) | <0.001* |
| Electric adjustable bed | 44 (19.8%) | 19 (18.4%) | 25 (21.0%) | 0.633 |
| Wearables for fall detection | 30 (13.5%) | 13 (12.6%) | 17 (14.3%) | 0.718 |
| Tremor suppression spoon | 17 (7.6%) | 5 (4.9%) | 12 (10.1%) | 0.144 |
| Tremor suppression gloves | 16 (7.2%) | 4 (3.9%) | 12 (10.1%) | 0.075 |
| Bed rails | 41 (18.5%) | 19 (18.4%) | 22 (18.5%) | 0.994 |
| Home rails | 71 (31.9%) | 29 (28.2%) | 42 (35.3%) | 0.255 |
| Bed support rails | 62 (27.9%) | 23 (22.3%) | 39 (32.8%) | 0.084 |
| Anti-slip mat | 77 (34.7%) | 39 (37.9%) | 38 (31.9%) | 0.354 |
| Cushioned fall mat | 37 (16.7%) | 14 (13.6%) | 23 (19.3%) | 0.253 |
| Horizontal lines on the floor as visual cues | 15 (6.7%) | 9 (8.7%) | 6 (5.0%) | 0.274 |
| Button-up device | 10 (4.5%) | 5 (4.9%) | 5 (4.2%) | 0.815 |
| Shower chair | 85 (38.3%) | 33 (32.0%) | 52 (43.7%) | 0.075 |
| Commode | 49 (22.1%) | 19 (18.4%) | 30 (25.2%) | 0.226 |
| Anti-choking cup | 26 (11.7%) | 7 (6.8%) | 19 (16.0%) | 0.034* |
| Fall alarm | 61 (27.5%) | 29 (28.2%) | 32 (26.9%) | 0.833 |
| Electric home ladder | 11 (4.9%) | 4 (3.9%) | 7 (5.9%) | 0.494 |
| Suction device | 10 (4.5%) | 3 (2.9%) | 7 (5.9%) | 0.287 |
All statistics were performed using the Chi-squared test for categorical units and an unpaired t-test for continuous units. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.