Managing Fatigue in Parkinson's Disease: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Occupational Therapy

Background:

• Fatigue is a significant and disabling symptom for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD).
• The "Managing Fatigue: A Six-Week Energy Conservation Intervention" program aims to enhance occupational performance in fatigued individuals.
• The efficacy of this intervention has not been previously established specifically within the Parkinson's disease population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of delivering the "Managing Fatigue: Individual Program" (MFIP) through videoconferencing.
• To assess the feasibility of the Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) protocol for this intervention in PD.
• To determine the preliminary effectiveness of the MFIP in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Main Methods:

• A pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) using a mixed-methods approach.
• 54 participants with Parkinson's disease were randomized (1:1) to either usual care or the MFIP.
• Simultaneous collection of qualitative and quantitative data to assess feasibility and preliminary effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Feasibility of the videoconference-delivered MFIP and RCT protocol will be assessed.
• Preliminary effectiveness data of the MFIP will be gathered.
• The study will provide insights into the acceptability and potential benefits of the intervention for PD patients.

Conclusions:

• Results will guide the protocol development for a full-scale RCT investigating fatigue management in PD.
• The study will provide evidence on the effectiveness of a one-to-one videoconference delivery model for the MFIP.
• Findings have the potential to improve accessibility and quality of care for the Parkinson's disease population experiencing fatigue.