A collaborative approach to exercise provision for people with Parkinson’s: a feasibility and acceptability study of the PDConnect programme. [Protocol]

Jones, Julie; Alexander, Lyndsay; Hancock, Elizabeth; Cooper, Kay

Abstract

Exercise has been shown to be beneficial for people with Parkinson's (PwP), limiting the rate of decline of motor and non-motor symptoms, with emerging evidence associating exercise with a neuroprotective effect. Current exercise provision is time-limited, and delivered in the absence of strategies to support long-term adherence to exercise. With a growing Parkinson's population, there is a need to develop long-term sustainable approaches to exercise delivery. The primary aim of this study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a multicomponent intervention (PDConnect) aimed at promoting physical activity, and self-management for PwP. A convergent fixed parallel mixed methods design study will be undertaken. The study aims to recruit 30 PwP, who will be randomly allocated into two groups: (i) the usual care group will receive physiotherapy once a week for six weeks delivered via Microsoft Teams. (ii) The PDConnect group will receive physiotherapy once a week for six weeks which combines exercise, education and behaviour change interventions delivered by NHS Parkinson’s specialist physiotherapists via Microsoft Teams. This will be followed by 12 weekly sessions of group exercise delivered on Microsoft Teams by fitness instructors specially trained in Parkinson's. Participants will be then contacted by the fitness instructors once per month for three months by video conferencing to support exercise engagement. Primary feasibility data will be collected during the study, with acceptability assessed via semi-structured interviews at the end. Secondary outcomes encompassing motor, non-motor and health and well-being measures will be assessed at baseline, at six, 18, and 30 weeks. This pilot study will establish whether PDConnect is feasible and acceptable to PwP. This will provide a platform for a larger evaluation to assess the effectiveness of PDConnect at increasing exercise participation and self-management within the Parkinson’s Community. [Version 2; peer review: 2 approved].
This protocol was registered on ISRCTN 04.06.2020, availaible from : https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11672329.

Citation

JONES, J., ALEXANDER, L.. HANCOCK, E. and COOPER, K. 2021. A collaborative approach to exercise provision for people with Parkinson's: a feasibility and acceptability study of the PDConnect programme. [Protocol]. AMRC open research [online], 2, article ID 29. Available from: https://doi.org/10.12688/amrcopenres.12936.2

• Other Type: Experiment
• Acceptance Date: Dec 10, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Dec 10, 2020
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Dec 14, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 14, 2020
• Publisher: Association of Medical Research Charities
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/amrcopenres.12936.2
• Keywords: Parkinson's; Exercise; Behaviour change; Empowerment; Partnership
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1005552
• Additional Information: This is the second version of the manuscript, the first published version is available from: https://doi.org/10.12688/amrcopenres.12936.1.