Efficiency of Physiotherapeutic Care in Parkinson's Disease

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Collaborator:
ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
Information provided by:
Radboud University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00330694
First received: May 24, 2006
Last updated: September 1, 2008
Last verified: September 2008

May 24, 2006
September 1, 2008
May 2006
July 2007   (final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Modified MACTAR scale [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Modified MACTAR scale
Complete list of historical versions of study NCT00330694 on ClinicalTrials.gov Archive Site
  • Parkinson Activity Scale (secondary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Costs [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Proportion of correct referrals (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Quality of physiotherapy(tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Incidence of Falls (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • ALDS (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • SF-36 (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • EQ-5D (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Satisfaction of patients and professionals (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Self Assessment Disability Scale (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Freezing of Gait Questionnaire {tertiary} [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • 6 meter walk test {tertiary} [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • 4x3 meter walk test (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Single leg stance (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Posture and Gait score (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Timed Up and Go (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Falls Efficacy Scale {tertiary} [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • 9-hole pegboard test {tertiary} [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Health Anxiety and Depression Scale (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Physical activities assessed with the LAPAQ questionnaire (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Caregiver burden assessed with the Care Giver Strain Index (tertiary) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • PDQ-39 (Mobility Scale) [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  • Parkinson Activity Scale (secondary)
  • PDQ-39 Mobility subscale (secondary)
  • Costs
  • Proportion of correct referrals (tertiary)
  • Quality of physiotherapy(tertiary)
  • Incidence of Falls (tertiary)
  • ALDS (tertiary)
  • SF-36 (tertiary)
  • EQ-5D (tertiary)
  • Satisfaction of patients and professionals (tertiary)
  • Self Assessment Disability Scale (tertiary)
  • Freezing of Gait Questionnaire {tertiary}
  • 6 meter walk test {tertiary}
  • 4x3 meter walk test (tertiary)
  • Single leg stance (tertiary)
  • Posture and Gait score (tertiary)
  • Timed Up and Go (tertiary)
  • Falls Efficacy Scale {tertiary}
  • 9-hole pegboard test {tertiary}
  • Health Anxiety and Depression Scale (tertiary)
  • Physical activities assessed with the LAPAQ questionnaire (tertiary)
  • Caregiver burden assessed with the Care Giver Strain Index (tertiary)
Not Provided
Not Provided
 
Efficiency of Physiotherapeutic Care in Parkinson's Disease
Efficiency of Physiotherapeutic Care in Parkinson's Disease

In the course of their disease, most patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) face mounting mobility deficits, including difficulties with walking, balance, posture and transfers. This frequently leads to (fear of) falls, injuries, loss of independence, and inactivity which causes social isolation and increases the risk of osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease. These mobility deficits are difficult to treat with drugs and neurosurgery. However, physiotherapy is deemed effective in improving mobility deficits in PD. Physiotherapy is widely prescribed for this purpose in the Netherlands. Yet, the efficiency of current "usual care" physiotherapy can be questioned, for two reasons. First, the referral process seems inadequate because patients are mainly referred by neurologists who often lack insight into the (im-)possibilities of physiotherapy for PD. Consequently, patients with a real need for physiotherapy are not always referred (undertreatment), whereas others without a real need are (overtreatment). Furthermore, most therapists treating PD patients are not specifically trained in treating these patients. This is not surprising because average therapists rarely treat more than two patients per year in their practice. Therefore, patients who are being referred probably receive suboptimal treatment.

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the efficiency of physiotherapeutic care for patients with Parkinson's disease can be improved, at a reduced cost, by targeting two key elements of the current care system: a) inadequate referral by neurologists; b) suboptimal treatment by physiotherapists. We expect that optimal referral combined with expert treatment will increase the efficiency, as reflected by increased health benefits for patients at equal or reduced costs'.

Design In a Cluster Randomised Trial, 16 clusters will be randomly allocated to either network care (8 clusters with an altered organisation of physiotherapeutic care) or usual care (8 clusters with unchanged organisation of physiotherapeutic care). Clusters are formed by all PD patients living in the communities connected to participating regional hospitals in the 16 clusters.

The health care intervention in the experimental group has two elements: (a) an improved quality of referrals by neurologists; and (b) an improved quality of interventions by physiotherapists. Brief description Network Care: In each of the Network Care clusters, 5 to 7 motivated therapists are selected to enroll in a regional ParkNet and consequently trained. Training is focused at correct use of the evidence-based guidelines for physiotherapy in PD (Keus et al, 2006). This training consists of a 5-day competence-oriented course, web-based continues education supported by seminars, and use of a PD specific electronic patient record. Neurologists are informed about indications for referral to physiotherapy. Improved communication between neurologist and ParkNet therapists is initiated and supported.

Following implementation of the health care change, PD patients attending the neurological outpatient clinics of the individual hospitals within the clusters will be asked to participate. During a period of 6 months, PD patients will enrol in the study. Enrollees will be followed for 6 months to measure the use and quality of physiotherapy, patient health benefit and satisfaction, and costs.

Interventional
Phase 3
Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease
  • Other: ParkNet
    Development of a network of dedicated physiotherapist with specific expertise in Parkinson's Disease and structured referrals to these ParkNet therapists by neurologists.
    Other Name: n.a.
  • Other: Usual Care
    No altered organisation of physiotherapy care in Parkinson's Disease
  • Experimental: I
    Implementation of ParkNet within 8 regions
    Intervention: Other: ParkNet
  • II
    Usual Care in 8 regions
    Intervention: Other: Usual Care
Munneke M, Nijkrake MJ, Keus SH, Kwakkel G, Berendse HW, Roos RA, Borm GF, Adang EM, Overeem S, Bloem BR; ParkinsonNet Trial Study Group. Efficacy of community-based physiotherapy networks for patients with Parkinson's disease: a cluster-randomised trial. Lancet Neurol. 2010 Jan;9(1):46-54. Epub 2009 Dec 1.

*   Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline.
 
Completed
708
July 2007
July 2007   (final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with idiopathic PD, diagnosed according to the Brain Bank criteria of the UK Parkinson's Disease Society
  • Living independently in the community
  • Able to complete the trial questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Atypical parkinsonian syndromes
  • Hoehn & Yahr stage 5
  • Severe cognitive impairment
  • Presence of major psychiatric disorders
  • Severe co-morbidity (e.g. cancer) that interferes with daily functioning.
Both
20 Years to 80 Years
No
Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
Netherlands
 
NCT00330694
945-04-357
No
Dr M Munneke, UMC St Radboud, Neurology
Radboud University
ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
Principal Investigator: Marten Munneke, PhD UMC st Radboud
Principal Investigator: Bastiaan R Bloem, MD, PhD UMC st Radboud
Radboud University
September 2008

ICMJE     Data element required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the World Health Organization ICTRP