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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 May;15(3):603-618.
doi: 10.1177/1877718X251324415. Epub 2025 Mar 28.

Feasibility and acceptability of PDConnect, a multi-component intervention to support physical activity in people with Parkinson's disease: A mixed methods study

Julie Jones  1 , Lyndsay Alexander  1 , Elizabeth Hancock  1 , Kay Cooper  1
Affiliations
Free article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Feasibility and acceptability of PDConnect, a multi-component intervention to support physical activity in people with Parkinson's disease: A mixed methods study

Julie Jones et al. J Parkinsons Dis. 2025 May.
Free article

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) is beneficial for people with Parkinson's (PwP); however, many are classed as sedentary. PDConnect is an online multicomponent intervention combining 1:1 physiotherapy and group-based PA combined with education, behavior change and self-management strategies, promoting PA and self-management among PwP.ObjectiveTo assess feasibility and acceptability of PDConnect.MethodsMixed methods study involving 31 PwP randomly allocated to: (i) usual care: physiotherapy once a week for six weeks, and (ii) PDConnect: physiotherapy once a week for six weeks, followed by 12 weekly sessions of group-based PA, followed by three monthly Teams calls to support engagement. Outcomes included intervention feasibility and acceptability (primary) assessed via survey and interviews; PA, motor, non-motor symptoms, and health and well-being (secondary) assessed at baseline, and at six, 18, and 30 weeks. Fidelity was accessed by post hoc video analysis.ResultsOnline delivery of PDConnect was feasible and safe. Participant retention was 74%. Response rate of self-reported measures was 97%. 95% of participants returned completed activity diaries. Attendance was high, with all participants recommending PDConnect. PDConnect participants reported improved flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance as well as increased PA confidence, PA levels and knowledge of Parkinson's disease. Half of PDConnect participants reported that they were much improved compared to 10% of usual care participants. Small to large effect sizes in PA (d = 0.03) and UPDRS (d = 0.96) ES) were reported, which warrant further exploration in an appropriately powered study.ConclusionsPDConnect is feasible and acceptable among PwP. A future large-scale trial is required to determine the effectiveness of PDConnect.

Keywords: Parkinson's disease; behavior change; physical activity; self-management.

Plain language summary

Physical activity (PA) has been shown to beneficial for people with Parkinson's (PwP). Thus far, research has focused on examining a single form of PA with very few studies looking at how best to support PwP to get active and stay active. This new research examined whether an intervention called PDConnect would be feasible and acceptable for PwP. PDConnect is online intervention combining six weeks of 1:1 Parkinson's specialist physiotherapy, followed by 12 weekly sessions of group-based PA which included education designed to promote PA levels and self-management skills for PwP. The researchers were also interested in collecting preliminary data about whether participation in PDConnect would impact Parkinson's symptoms and their health and well-being. Thirty-one PwP participated in the study and were divided into two groups: one group received PDConnect and the other received 6 sessions of Physiotherapy. PDConnect was found to be feasible and acceptable by participants. No adverse events occurred. PDConnect participants reported improved flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance as well as increased PA confidence, PA levels and knowledge of Parkinson's. Half the PDConnect participants also reported that they were much improved compared to 10% of usual care participants. This study has shown that PDConnect is feasible and acceptable among PwP, and now the researchers would like to plan a future larger study to explore how effective PDConnect is compared to other physical activity interventions.

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