Self-management support programs for persons with Parkinson's disease: An integrative review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder requiring ongoing management.
• Self-management strategies are crucial for individuals with chronic conditions like PD to maintain quality of life.
• Existing literature lacks a comprehensive overview of PD-specific self-management programs and their efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the features of existing self-management programs designed for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
• To evaluate the evidence supporting the effectiveness of these self-management interventions.

Main Methods:

• An integrative literature review was performed, including studies on self-management interventions for PD published in English.
• Two independent reviewers screened and assessed articles.
• Intervention characteristics and outcomes were analyzed and synthesized using The Traffic Lighting system for evidence appraisal.

Main Results:

• Eighteen distinct self-management interventions were identified, varying in format (group/individual), structure, and components.
• A significant majority (89%) were tailored for PD, with 39% incorporating self-management alongside other therapies.
• Evidence supporting specific PD self-management programs was limited; however, moderate-quality systematic reviews and good-quality RCTs indicated benefits for specific quality-of-life domains.

Conclusions:

• Diverse self-management interventions exist for Parkinson's disease, but their key active components require further elucidation.
• Self-management programs integrated within rehabilitation settings appear promising.
• Future research should focus on identifying optimal program components and target populations, considering elements like goal setting, problem-solving, caregiver involvement, and peer support.