The goal of this mixed methods, user research study is to evaluate the Keep On Keep Up programme for people with Parkinson's (KOKU4PD). The main aims of the study are to: 1. To explore the usability and acceptability of the PD specific KOKU programme from a user and health care professional perspective. 2. To produce a KOKU4PD digital program that is ready for National Health Service (NHS) approval and a future effectiveness evaluation. Participants will use the KOKU4PD app at home for 4 weeks. They will be assessed at baseline and after the 4 weeks to measure aspects of their disease status, mobility, thinking, mood and quality of life. They will also be asked to complete some questionnaires about the usability of the app.
Keep on Keep Up (KOKU) is a digital program available on a tablet that has been designed to engage people in safe and effective falls prevention exercises. KOKU incorporates evidence-based exercise programmes for balance and function and has demonstrated high usability and acceptability in older adults. KOKU is approved by NHS Digital as compliant with regulatory data and safety standards. Earlier work by the research team has shown that KOKU is effective in improving balance in older adults. However, the effectiveness of KOKU in PD is unknown. The purpose of this study is to explore if app-based exercise is feasible, acceptable and effective in PD, especially in harder-to-reach populations who may not exercise on a regular basis. Through mixed methods approaches, the proposed study aims to: (i) explore the usability and acceptability of the PD specific KOKU programme from a user and health care professional perspective and (ii) produce a KOKU4PD digital program that is ready for NHS approval and a future effectiveness evaluation. 20 people with PD will be recruited to take part in the study where they will be asked to use the KOKU app independently at home for 4 weeks. A repeated measure design will be employed with assessments performed at the clinical gait lab during two separate sessions lasting between 2-3 hours. Participants will attend the lab for outcomes to be measured at the start and after 4 weeks of exercise with the KOKU app. During the second lab visit, participants will complete a questionnaire about the usability of the KOKU app and take part in an interview to explore their experiences of using it.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Exercise at home using the KOKU app for 4 weeks.
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom
Usability of the KOKU app
Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about the usability of the KOKU app and participate in an interview based on their responses to the questionnaires.
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Executive clock drawing task (CLOX 1, 2) (mean Change from baseline)
A clock drawing task (CLOX) designed to elicit executive impairment and discriminate it from non-executive constructional failure.
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Trail Making Test (mean Change from baseline)
Timed written test of visual function and scanning
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (mean Change from baseline)
Self-report questionnaire
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Falls Efficacy scale (mean Change from baseline)
Self-report questionnaire (minimum 16 (no concern about falling) to maximum 64 (severe concern about falling)
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire - PDQ-39 (mean Change from baseline)
The 39 item questionnaire offers a patient reported measure of health status and quality of life. Items are grouped into eight scales that are scored by expressing summed item scores as a percentage score ranging between 0 and 100 (100 = more health problems).
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Mini-BESTest (mean Change from baseline)
The Mini-BESTest is a clinical balance test that has shown a high sensitivity in detecting balance impairments in elderly people with Parkinson's disease. The Mini- BESTest consists of 14 items, with a maximum (best) score of 28 points.
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Two minute walk test, single and dual task (mean Change from baseline)
Participant walks continually for 2 minutes; for dual task, participant is asked to recall numbers as they are walking
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
EuroQol-5 Dimension Quality of Life tool - EQ5D-5L (mean Change from baseline)
Self-report quality fo life questionnaire - EQ-5D-5L index scores range from -0.59 to 1, where 1 is the best possible health state.
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale (mean Change from baseline)
The Activities-specific Balance confidence (ABS) scale is a questionnaire developed to assess older individual's balance confidence in performing daily activities. There are 16 items, representing daily activities. Participants are asked to answer, with a score from 0% (not confident at all) to 100% (completely confident) in increments of 10%, how confident they are in performing each activity. The average score obtained is an indication on balance confidence. A score of \> 80% indicates high level of functioning. A score of 50%-80% indicates moderate level of functioning. A score of \< 50% indicates low levels of functioning. Additionally, a score of \< 67% suggests substantial risk of falling.
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) (mean Change from baseline)
The MFI is a 20-item inventory scored on a 5-point Likert scale and measures five dimensions of fatigue: general fatigue, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, reduced motivation, and reduced activity. The MFI dimension scores range from 4 to 20 (most severe) and have been credited with reliably measuring fatigue severity in each dimension.
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
Technology Acceptance questionnaire
Self-report questionnaire, based on the Technology Acceptance Model. There are 15 items which participants have to rate on a scale of 1 (= strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree).
Time frame: After 4 weeks of using KOKU at home
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.