Social Prescription for Parkinson's Disease

Overseen By Laura A Swink, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Colorado State University

Disqualifiers: Dementia, Not fluent in English

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 8

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how a social prescription can reduce loneliness in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Researchers believe that connecting participants to community activities and resources through an occupational therapist can reduce feelings of isolation. Participants will receive personalized plans, including six follow-up sessions to help them engage in these activities. The trial seeks individuals with PD who have felt lonely despite participating in exercise classes or support groups. Participants must be willing to engage in a six-month program that involves working with an occupational therapist. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative research aimed at improving social well-being for those with PD.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on social prescriptions and occupational therapy to address loneliness in Parkinson's disease.

What prior data suggests that this occupational therapy led social prescription is safe for people with Parkinson's disease?

Research has shown that occupational therapy is a safe option for people with Parkinson's disease. Studies indicate it often improves daily activities and quality of life. Specifically, home-based, personalized therapy has led to better self-reported daily performance.

Regarding side effects or safety concerns, data does not show significant issues, indicating that the therapy is generally well-tolerated. Many programs, including online ones, have demonstrated promising results in improving daily function without major safety problems. Therefore, evidence suggests that occupational therapy is a safe and helpful choice for managing Parkinson's symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Occupational Therapy Led Social Prescription for Parkinson's Disease because it focuses on enhancing social engagement, which is not typically addressed by standard treatments. Most existing options for Parkinson's, like medications and physical therapy, aim to manage motor symptoms. This new approach takes a holistic view, using occupational therapy to integrate behavior-change techniques and social connections into care. By encouraging active participation and addressing barriers to social involvement, this method could improve overall well-being and quality of life for those affected by Parkinson's.

What evidence suggests that this occupational therapy led social prescription is effective for reducing loneliness in Parkinson's disease?

Research has shown that social activities guided by occupational therapy effectively reduce loneliness. This trial will evaluate the Occupational Therapy Led Social Prescription, which includes a baseline assessment and follow-up sessions. Studies have found that these activities greatly improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease, especially when focusing on everyday tasks and involvement. Home-based and personalized therapy, in particular, helps patients feel more confident in managing daily activities. Evidence also suggests that these activities increase participation in social events. This method shows promise for reducing loneliness in people with Parkinson's. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Laura A Swink, PhD

Principal Investigator

Colorado State University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with Parkinson's Disease who feel lonely, even if they've been socially active. They must have attended an exercise class or support group in the past year and scored high on a loneliness scale. Participants will engage in a 6-month program involving social activities prescribed by occupational therapists.

Inclusion Criteria

I have joined an exercise class or support group in the past year.

I scored 5 or more on a loneliness test.

I agree to a 6-month program with an occupational therapist.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

A baseline occupational therapy assessment including a social prescription

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Six monthly occupational therapy follow-up sessions focused on behavior-change techniques to encourage participation in the social prescription

6 months

6 visits (in-person)

Post-Intervention Assessment

Post Occupational Therapy Assessment to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for psychosocial outcomes, mobility, and quality of life after the intervention

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Occupational Therapy Led Social Prescription

Trial Overview

The study tests whether 'social prescriptions' given by occupational therapists can reduce feelings of loneliness in people with Parkinson's Disease. It involves personalized activities from community resources to enhance social participation, alongside regular visits to the therapist.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Occupational Therapy Led Social Prescription Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

(1) A baseline occupational therapy assessment including a social prescription, (2) Six monthly occupational therapy follow-up sessions focused on behavior-change techniques to encourage participation in the social prescription, and include: review of the social prescription, self-monitoring strategies, facilitators review, barriers review, problem-solving, provision of feedback, action planning, and rating confidence with the action plan, and (3) Post Occupational Therapy Assessment

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Colorado State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

138

Recruited

38,200+

American Occupational Therapy Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

14

Recruited

380+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Occupational therapy interventions focusing on meaningful activities significantly improve perceived occupational performance in people with Parkinson's disease, based on a review of 10 studies involving 1343 participants.

Upper limb therapy programs provided short-term improvements in upper limb function, suggesting that tailored, goal-oriented therapy plans are effective, although the long-term benefits remain uncertain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention for people with Parkinson's disease: Systematic review. Welsby, E., Berrigan, S., Laver, K.[2023]

A proactive consultative occupational therapy program tailored for individuals with early Parkinson's disease (PD) was developed and evaluated, showing that 75% of participants reported high satisfaction with the program.

The program effectively addressed specific needs, such as hand strength and dexterity deficits, and demonstrated a high adherence rate (60%) to home exercise recommendations among participants who recalled the program, indicating its potential for improving quality of life in early PD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Occupational Therapy for People with Early Parkinson's Disease: A Retrospective Program Evaluation. Sadural, A., MacDonald, J., Johnson, J., et al.[2022]

A pilot trial involving 39 non-demented patients with Parkinson's disease showed that occupational therapy (OT) is feasible and acceptable, with low withdrawal rates and good completion of outcome questionnaires.

The study indicated that OT may improve functional independence and quality of life, as measured by the Nottingham Extended Activity of Daily Living Scale and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire, although the differences were not statistically significant.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot randomised controlled trial of occupational therapy to optimise independence in Parkinson's disease: the PD OT trial. Clarke, CE., Furmston, A., Morgan, E., et al.[2021]

Occupational therapy (OT) is an important complementary treatment for managing motor impairments and functional limitations in Parkinson's disease, as indicated by a review of eight studies.

While definitive conclusions are limited due to the absence of high-level studies, there is evidence that OT can lead to improvements in motor function and quality of life during the course of therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enabling functional independence in Parkinson's disease: update on occupational therapy intervention. Rao, AK.[2010]

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of occupation-based interventions, both with and without responsibility feedback, compared to conventional therapies in improving participation among 45 individuals with Parkinson's disease over 12 weeks.

The trial aims to measure various outcomes related to participation and quality of life, potentially providing new insights into how structured occupational therapy can enhance both motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A comparison of the effects of occupation-based interventions with and without responsibility feedback and conventional interventions on participation in people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Meimandi, M., Azad, A., Ghani, JH., et al.[2023]

Occupational therapy (OT) is recognized as an important part of managing Parkinson's disease, but many patients in Israel do not seek this treatment, highlighting a gap in care.

To improve the utilization of OT, strategies such as providing specific training for therapists and increasing awareness among patients and referring physicians are essential.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Occupational therapy for people with Parkinson's disease in Israel: A SWOT analysis. Cavaglion, A., Duvdevani, M., Siegelman, N., et al.[2023]

Occupational therapy showed some positive effects in patients with Parkinson's disease, but the improvements were small and based on only two trials involving 84 patients, highlighting the need for more robust research.

Due to significant methodological flaws and the small sample size of the studies, there is currently insufficient evidence to definitively support or refute the efficacy of occupational therapy for Parkinson's disease, indicating a need for larger, well-designed trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Occupational therapy for patients with Parkinson's disease. Deane, KH., Ellis-Hill, C., Playford, ED., et al.[2018]

Citations

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