Utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson disease: a program evaluation using mixed methods
Abstract Background Physical activity and exercise play a key role in managing Parkinson disease. This study aimed to: 1) determine if physiotherapy supported by telehealth helped people with Parkinson disease (PwP) to adhere to a home-based exercise program and maintain their physical activity; and...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09194-0 |
| _version_ | 1797865176227119104 |
|---|---|
| author | Allyson Flynn Elisabeth Preston Sarah Dennis Colleen G. Canning Natalie E. Allen |
| author_facet | Allyson Flynn Elisabeth Preston Sarah Dennis Colleen G. Canning Natalie E. Allen |
| author_sort | Allyson Flynn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Physical activity and exercise play a key role in managing Parkinson disease. This study aimed to: 1) determine if physiotherapy supported by telehealth helped people with Parkinson disease (PwP) to adhere to a home-based exercise program and maintain their physical activity; and 2) understand their experiences of using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A mixed methods program evaluation involving a retrospective file audit from a student-run physiotherapy clinic and semi-structured interviews exploring participants’ experiences of telehealth. Ninety-six people with mild to moderate disease received home-based telehealth physiotherapy for 21 weeks. The primary outcome was adherence to the prescribed exercise program. Secondary outcomes were measures of physical activity. Interviews were conducted with 13 clients and seven students and analysed thematically. Results Adherence to the prescribed exercise program was high. The mean (SD) proportion of prescribed sessions completed was 108% (46%). On average clients spent 29 (12) minutes per session, and 101 (55) minutes per week exercising. Physical activity levels were maintained, with clients taking 11,226 (4,832) steps per day on entry to telehealth, and 11,305 (4,390) steps per day on exit from telehealth. The semi-structured interviews identified important features of a telehealth service required to support exercise; a flexible approach of clients and therapists, empowerment, feedback, a therapeutic relationship, and mode of delivery. Conclusions PwP were able to continue exercising at home and maintain their physical activity when physiotherapy was provided via telehealth. The flexible approach of both the client and the service was imperative. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:04:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-24a65bb9134348fcb7f7a5e3733ea423 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:04:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-24a65bb9134348fcb7f7a5e3733ea4232023-03-22T10:46:37ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-03-0123111210.1186/s12913-023-09194-0Utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson disease: a program evaluation using mixed methodsAllyson Flynn0Elisabeth Preston1Sarah Dennis2Colleen G. Canning3Natalie E. Allen4Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneyDiscipline of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, University of CanberraSydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneySydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneySydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of SydneyAbstract Background Physical activity and exercise play a key role in managing Parkinson disease. This study aimed to: 1) determine if physiotherapy supported by telehealth helped people with Parkinson disease (PwP) to adhere to a home-based exercise program and maintain their physical activity; and 2) understand their experiences of using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A mixed methods program evaluation involving a retrospective file audit from a student-run physiotherapy clinic and semi-structured interviews exploring participants’ experiences of telehealth. Ninety-six people with mild to moderate disease received home-based telehealth physiotherapy for 21 weeks. The primary outcome was adherence to the prescribed exercise program. Secondary outcomes were measures of physical activity. Interviews were conducted with 13 clients and seven students and analysed thematically. Results Adherence to the prescribed exercise program was high. The mean (SD) proportion of prescribed sessions completed was 108% (46%). On average clients spent 29 (12) minutes per session, and 101 (55) minutes per week exercising. Physical activity levels were maintained, with clients taking 11,226 (4,832) steps per day on entry to telehealth, and 11,305 (4,390) steps per day on exit from telehealth. The semi-structured interviews identified important features of a telehealth service required to support exercise; a flexible approach of clients and therapists, empowerment, feedback, a therapeutic relationship, and mode of delivery. Conclusions PwP were able to continue exercising at home and maintain their physical activity when physiotherapy was provided via telehealth. The flexible approach of both the client and the service was imperative.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09194-0TelemedicineParkinson diseaseExercise therapyPhysiotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Allyson Flynn Elisabeth Preston Sarah Dennis Colleen G. Canning Natalie E. Allen Utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson disease: a program evaluation using mixed methods BMC Health Services Research Telemedicine Parkinson disease Exercise therapy Physiotherapy |
| title | Utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson disease: a program evaluation using mixed methods |
| title_full | Utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson disease: a program evaluation using mixed methods |
| title_fullStr | Utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson disease: a program evaluation using mixed methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson disease: a program evaluation using mixed methods |
| title_short | Utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson disease: a program evaluation using mixed methods |
| title_sort | utilising telehealth to support exercise and physical activity in people with parkinson disease a program evaluation using mixed methods |
| topic | Telemedicine Parkinson disease Exercise therapy Physiotherapy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09194-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT allysonflynn utilisingtelehealthtosupportexerciseandphysicalactivityinpeoplewithparkinsondiseaseaprogramevaluationusingmixedmethods AT elisabethpreston utilisingtelehealthtosupportexerciseandphysicalactivityinpeoplewithparkinsondiseaseaprogramevaluationusingmixedmethods AT sarahdennis utilisingtelehealthtosupportexerciseandphysicalactivityinpeoplewithparkinsondiseaseaprogramevaluationusingmixedmethods AT colleengcanning utilisingtelehealthtosupportexerciseandphysicalactivityinpeoplewithparkinsondiseaseaprogramevaluationusingmixedmethods AT natalieeallen utilisingtelehealthtosupportexerciseandphysicalactivityinpeoplewithparkinsondiseaseaprogramevaluationusingmixedmethods |