Behavioural Change Techniques for Physical Activity and Exercise Adherence Among People With Parkinson's

NCT ID: NCT06192628

Last Updated: 2024-01-05

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-09-10

Study Completion Date

2024-01-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Many people with Parkinson's (PwP) experience many barriers to reaching the recommended dosage of exercise. The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of behavioural change support techniques delivered alongside an exercise programme to improve physical activity, function, to inform a future pilot randomised controlled trial.

Twenty participants with Parkinson's will be allocated to the intervention (n=10) or the control group (n=10). Both groups will receive usual care, which includes a weekly program of a multidisciplinary education, a supervised exercise class and a prescribed home exercise program. The intervention group will receive additional behavioural change techniques to help them adhere to the exercises, targeting behaviour regulation, belief about capabilities and social influences.

Outcomes will measure how well people were able to stay in the programme, and their physical function after the 12 week programme. Surveys will be used to compare experiences and satisfaction between groups. Exit interviews will be completed with the intervention group only, exploring their experience of the behavioural change techniques.

Discussion: The results will help inform a future pilot randomised controlled trial, based on the intervention acceptability, consent rate, maintenance, and protocol integrity.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Background: Parkinson's is a common progressive neurological condition characterized by motor and non-motor deficits. Physical activity and exercise can improve health, but many people with Parkinson's (PwP) have trouble reaching the recommended dosage. Our recent literature review found improvements in exercise adherence with behavioural change interventions, but it remains unclear which are most effective. Further qualitative research and patient and public involvement has informed a novel behavioural change support intervention to be tested alongside an existing exercise program.

Objective: To examine the feasibility of behavioural change support techniques delivered alongside an exercise programme to improve physical activity, function, and self-efficacy in PwP (and study procedures) to inform a future pilot RCT trial.

Methods: A parallel-arm single blinded randomised feasibility study. Twenty participants with Parkinson's (Hoehn and Yahr stage 1-3) will be recruited from a physiotherapy primary-care waiting list. Following written consent, and baseline assessment, the participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention (n=10) or the control group (n=10). Both groups will receive usual care, which includes a weekly program of a multidisciplinary education, a supervised exercise class and a prescribed home exercise program. The intervention group will receive additional behavioural change techniques, targeting behaviour regulation, belief about capabilities and social influences. Class and home exercise adherence, behavioural component uptake and adherence, and negative events will be recorded. Outcomes will include enrolment and maintenance rates, physical function, falls, physical activity, and exercise self-efficacy measured pre- and post- the 12- week program (in-person). Surveys will be used to compare experiences and satisfaction between groups. Exit interviews will be completed with the intervention group only, exploring their experience of the behavioural change techniques.

Discussion: The results will help inform a future pilot RCT, based on the intervention acceptability, consent rate, maintenance, and protocol integrity.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Parkinson Disease

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

two-arm single blinded randomised feasibility study
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
patients are randomly allocated using concealed envelopes, and they are not informed as to which arm they have been allocated. They both receive an exercise programme, with the active arm receiving additional behavioral change techniques to promote exercise adherence and exercise self efficacy

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Parkinson's Education and Exercise Programme [PEEP]

12 week programme of exercises and educational sessions

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Parkinson's Exercise and Education Programme

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A 12 week programme of exercise and education

The weekly programme consists of a 45-minute exercise programme, 45-minute education sessions delivered by healthcare professionals about their role in Parkinson's management, and independent home exercise programmes completed twice weekly (determined by the registered physiotherapist only)

Parkinson's Education and Exercise Programme and Behavioural Change [PEEP-BC]

12 week programme of exercise and education with additional behavioural change techniques to promote exercise adherence and exercise self-efficacy.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Parkinson's Exercise and Education Programme and Behavioural Change

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A 12-week programme of exercise, education and behavioural change techniques to support exercise adherence and exercise self-efficacy

The weekly programme consists of a 45-minute exercise programme, 45-minute education sessions delivered by healthcare professionals about their role in Parkinson's management, and independent home exercise programmes completed twice weekly (determined by the registered physiotherapist and participant)

Additional techniques addressing behavioural regulation include firstly, an exercise diary completed independently at home, secondly, the rationale and the intended functional benefit and expectations of the exercise programme clearly explained, thirdly individual weekly conversations to reflect on progress, expectations, solutions to barriers, and goals. Finally, peer support is strongly encouraged through the in-class support, and a social media networking group.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Parkinson's Exercise and Education Programme

A 12 week programme of exercise and education

The weekly programme consists of a 45-minute exercise programme, 45-minute education sessions delivered by healthcare professionals about their role in Parkinson's management, and independent home exercise programmes completed twice weekly (determined by the registered physiotherapist only)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Parkinson's Exercise and Education Programme and Behavioural Change

A 12-week programme of exercise, education and behavioural change techniques to support exercise adherence and exercise self-efficacy

The weekly programme consists of a 45-minute exercise programme, 45-minute education sessions delivered by healthcare professionals about their role in Parkinson's management, and independent home exercise programmes completed twice weekly (determined by the registered physiotherapist and participant)

Additional techniques addressing behavioural regulation include firstly, an exercise diary completed independently at home, secondly, the rationale and the intended functional benefit and expectations of the exercise programme clearly explained, thirdly individual weekly conversations to reflect on progress, expectations, solutions to barriers, and goals. Finally, peer support is strongly encouraged through the in-class support, and a social media networking group.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (Early Stages of Parkinson's H\&Y Stage 1-3)
* Ability to drive or obtain transport that will drop and collect at the health centre.
* Ability to independently walk (with or without a walking aid)
* Reported by the referring healthcare provider or carer as able to follow instructions and carry out the exercise program independently at home.

Exclusion Criteria

* • A diagnosis of atypical Parkinson's (e.g., progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, etc) or vascular Parkinsonism or drug-induced parkinsonism

* Previously completed the PEEP program.
* Had a hospital admission \< 6 weeks ago.
* Immobility, or are a wheelchair-user.
* Severe visual or auditory impairment
* Serious medical conditions in major organs (heart, lung, or kidney) or other illnesses which prevent independent ambulation or safe exercise.
* Been identified as a high falls risk (identified during the pre-screening using objective measure the Short Physical Performance Battery (a score of ≤6 indicates a higher fall risk in old adults27) and subjective reporting of frequent falls in the past six months.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University College Cork

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Ruth McCullagh

Lecturer in Physiotherapy

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Ruth McCullagh, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University College Cork

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

St Marys Primary Care Centre

Cork, , Ireland

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Ireland

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Ahern L, Timmons S, Lamb SE, McCullagh R. Behaviour Change for Parkinson's Disease: A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Study to Promote Physical Activity and Exercise Adherence Among People with Parkinson's Disease. J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls. 2025 Sep 1;10(3):128-149. doi: 10.22540/JFSF-10-128. eCollection 2025 Sep.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40901341 (View on PubMed)

Ahern L, Timmons S, Lamb SE, McCullagh R. Behavioural change for Parkinson's Disease: A randomised controlled feasibility study to promote physical activity and exercise adherence among people with Parkinson's: study protocol. HRB Open Res. 2024 May 29;7:7. doi: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13843.2. eCollection 2024.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38784965 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

20114

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Personalizing Exercise for Parkinson Disease
NCT04782518 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Barre Exercise in Parkinson's
NCT06203990 COMPLETED PHASE1