The purpose of the study is to develop, deliver, and test an online Alexander-based training program for people with Parkinson's disease and their care partners.
Six dyads, each consisting of a person with Parkinson's disease and their care partner, will participate in a real-time online course called "Poised for Parkinson's." The course will meet twice per week via Zoom for eighteen 105-minute sessions. Outcome measures, including surveys, interviews, balance, and motor performance, will be assessed the week before classes begin and the week after classes end.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
32
Lecture, demonstration, activities, and supplemental materials designed to improve self-awareness, situational awareness, and ability to make good choices for physical and emotional self-care, moment-to-moment.
The Poise Project
Candler, North Carolina, United States
Motor Function - Objective
Physical Performance Test (7 items). Score can vary from 0-28. Higher score is better.
Time frame: Assessed the week before the intervention (week 1) and the week after the intervention (week 11). Difference is reported. Positive number indicates improvement.
Balance - Objective
Due to COVID, we only assessed the subset of brief Bestest that can be scored online: standing on each foot, gait stability, and forward reach. Possible scores: 0-12. Higher score is better. Positive number indicates improvement.
Time frame: Assessed the week before the intervention (week 1) and the week after the intervention (week 11). Difference is reported. Positive number indicates improvement.
Balance: Self-report
Activities Balance Confidence scale. Possible score from 0-100. Higher score is better.
Time frame: Assessed the week before the intervention (week 1) and the week after the intervention (week 11). Difference is reported. Positive number indicates improvement.
Posture - Objective
Assessed by photo in sagittal plane. Positive numbers indicate a more upright posture.
Time frame: Assessed the week before the intervention (week 1) and the week after the intervention (week 11). Difference is reported. Positive number indicates improvement.
Feasibility - Attendance
Course attendance (out of 16)
Time frame: Attendance will be tracked at every class session, weeks 2-10.
Feasibility - Retention
Study retention: number of participants who completed the study
Time frame: assessed after the intervention (week 11)
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Symptom Management
Survey administered by phone, with 29 Likert scale questions on a scale of 0-5 asking how well the person with Parkinson's disease is able to manage typical Parkinson's symptoms, including bradykinesia, tremor, stooped posture, freezing of gait, anxiety, fatigue, and so on. Higher scores indicate better symptom management. The scores were summed, with a possible range of 0-145.
Time frame: Assessed the week before the intervention (week 1) and the week after the intervention (week 11). Difference is reported. Positive number indicates improvement.
Care-partner Self-management Skill
Anonymous course evaluation survey filled out and mailed in. Question reported: I feel I am better prepared for the present and future daily challenges of being my partner's care partner. Rate from 1-10 with 10 being high.
Time frame: Assessed after the intervention (week 11)