National implementation of a digital Parkinson’s disease screening programme in Thailand: reach, usability, and real-world performance of the CheckPD app

Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains underdiagnosed in Thailand, and its rising prevalence presents a growing challenge for the healthcare system. The previously validated CheckPD digital population screening platform has been implemented nationally in collaboration with the Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS) and the National Health Security Office (NHSO), enabling integration of digital PD risk screening into preventive health frameworks. Objective To evaluate the early phase of a national rollout of the CheckPD platform, focusing on population reach, usability, predictive performance, and implementation factors influencing adoption and scalability across diverse real-world settings. Methods This mixed-methods implementation study undertaken in 10 screening provinces in Thailand was guided by the RE-AIM framework. Usability was assessed using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and task-completion metrics. AI-predicted PD risk was compared with diagnoses made by neurologists. Qualitative feedback was collected from Village Health Volunteers and Public Health Officers. Data storage and governance complied with Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act of 2019. Results Between January 2024 and October 2025, 13,381 out of 21,882 users completed screening across 10 provinces (completion rate: 72%). The mean SUS score was 83, with a 92% first-time task completion rate. Programme reach was achieved through multiple channels, including Village Health Volunteers (6,742 participants), community field campaigns (5,207), online training initiatives (3,172), and self-initiated app downloads (2,080). When compared with neurologists’ diagnoses, the screening demonstrated a positive predictive value of 89.15%. Key facilitators of implementation included TRCS endorsement and network support, community volunteer engagement, and user-centred app design. Logistic regression analysis identified that barriers to completing the CheckPD app screening tests included a lower educational level and a more rural geographical location suggesting some disparities in access. Conclusions The CheckPD programme demonstrates that national-scale digital screening for neurological disorders is feasible in a low-to-middle-income country when embedded within trusted institutions, supported by community networks, and aligned with data protection standards. Thailand’s experience provides a scalable and replicable model for implementing population-level improvements in brain health by allowing early detection and assessment of those at individuals at risk, aligning with the World Health Organization’s Brain Health framework.