The First Steps pathway for taking control after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s

ISRCTN ISRCTN14760402
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14760402
Secondary identifying numbers CPMS 35346
Submission date
19/03/2018
Registration date
29/03/2018
Last edited
07/04/2025
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. People with Parkinson's (PwP) report being diagnosed as devastating and could be better handled with a subsequent reduction in stress and anxiety for those affected and their families. Stress and anxiety have been highlighted as one of the top 10 research priorities for PwP with the need for improvement in the information those newly diagnosed receive. The aim of this study is to assess the First Step program for taking control after diagnosis, which has been developed by PwP for PwP.

Who can participate?
Patients aged over 18 with a diagnosis of Parkinson's within the previous 12 months

What does the study involve?
The First Step program consists of two workshops over a 6-week period. The workshops are delivered by PwP who provide information on how to face the future positively, address fears and misconceptions and how they can help manage the condition themselves. Participants are asked to complete assessments delivered over the phone, through the post or online before starting the program and after 3 and 6 months. Questions are asked about health, wellbeing and activity. People’s experiences of the program and the study are also collected.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is minimal risk associated with assessment and the study has been designed to minimise burden on the participants. Assessment takes place over the phone at a time convenient to the participant, thus avoiding the need to travel. Follow-up assessment should take no longer than 40 minutes, with assessments at the start of the study taking longer due to the consenting procedure and obtaining demographic information. Whilst unlikely, the questionnaires used in the study may cause mild distress to participants. However, they are all commonly used in both research and clinical practice and the researcher will have adequate experience of their use.

Where is the study run from?
The program takes place in suitable community venues in Oxfordshire, Hampshire or Surrey (when the program becomes available). Currently the Oxfordshire program runs out of Witney Lakes Resort.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2017 to November 2018

Who is funding the study?
Parkinson's UK

Who is the main contact?
Sophie Lawrie

Contact information

Miss Sophie Lawrie
Scientific

Oxford Brookes University
Headington Campus
Oxford
OX3 0BP
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designNon-randomized; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Complex Intervention
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised study
Study setting(s)Community
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleThe First Steps pathway for taking control after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s: a feasibility study
Study hypothesisPeople with Parkinson's (PwP) report being diagnosed as devastating and could be better handled with a subsequent reduction in stress and anxiety for those affected and their families. Stress and anxiety have been highlighted as one of the top 10 research priorities for PwP (James Lind Alliance) with the need for improvement in the Information those newly diagnosed receive. This research is to evaluate the ‘First Step program' for taking control after diagnosis, which has been developed by PwP for PwP.
Ethics approval(s)South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee, 23/08/2017, ref: 17/SC/0346
ConditionParkinson's disease
InterventionAdults with diagnoses of Parkinson's within the previous 12 months, will be invited to attend the program and be offered the opportunity to take part in the research. It will be made clear to individuals that taking part in the program is not dependent on them taking part in the research.

The program will take place in suitable community venues in Oxfordshire, Hampshire or Surrey (when the program becomes available). Currently the Oxfordshire program runs out of Witney Lakes Resort.

The First Step program consists of two workshops over a 6-week period. The workshops are delivered by pwp who provide information on how to face the future positively, address fears and misconceptions and how they can help manage the condition themselves. Those taking part in the research will be asked to take part in assessments delivered over the phone. The EPIC Questionnaire will be completed at their convenience either through post or by completing online. Assessment will take place before starting the program (baseline) and at 3 months and 6 months. At assessment we will asks questions about health, wellbeing and activity, using standard questionnaires. People’s experiences of the program and the research will also be asked. All people taking part in the research will have the opportunity to receive the program, however, delivery of the program will begin when available in that area.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Acceptability, assessed using Process Evaluation Questionnaire (view of venue, staff/facilitator, course content, ease of attendance, impact)
2. Demographics (age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and rural or urban home, employment)
3. Adherence: % of attendance for Day 1 and Day 2 of First Steps Program
4. Eligibility: number of people screened and that match the eligibility criteria
5. Recruitment: rate of eligible participants enrolled onto the study (%), rate of eligible patients that attended First Steps (%)
6. Retention: no. of enrolled patients that completed the 6 month telephone assessment, number of patients that completed the process evaluation questionnaire, number of patients that completed each outcome measure at baseline, 3 months and 6 months
7. Step-wedge trial: differences in onset of programme provision, number of patients who have attended and not attended First Steps per site
8. Fidelity of delivery, assessed using fidelity checklist at delivery of program
Secondary outcome measures1. Generic health status is measured by the Euro-QOL (EQ5D-5L) questionnaire at baseline (0 weeks), three months (12 weeks) and six months (24 weeks)
2. Anxiety and depression is measured by the Hospital, Anxiety and Depression Scale (HaDs) at baseline (0 weeks), three months (12 weeks) and six months (24 weeks)
3. Social participation is measured by the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) at baseline (0 weeks), three months (12 weeks) and six months (24 weeks)
4. Service use is measured by the modified Client Service Receipt Inventor (modified CSRI) at baseline (0 weeks), three months (12 weeks) and six months (24 weeks)
5. Activities of daily living is measured by the Schwab and England (S&E) questionnaire at baseline (0 weeks), three months (12 weeks) and six months (24 weeks)
6. Physical activity is measured by the International physical activity questionnaire-short version (IPAQs) at baseline (0 weeks), three months (12 weeks) and six months (24 weeks)
7. Diet over the past year is measured by the EPIC-Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire. At baseline (0 weeks) a link to an online version of the EPIC questionnaire OR a paper copy is sent by post to the participant to be completed at the participants convenience
8. Diet over the previous day is measured using the 24-hour Food Recall at baseline (0 weeks), three months (12 weeks) and six months (24 weeks)
9. Carer strain is measured by the Caregiver Strain Index at baseline (0 weeks), three months (12 weeks) and six months (24 weeks)
Overall study start date01/06/2017
Overall study end date30/11/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsPlanned Sample Size: 80; UK Sample Size: 80
Total final enrolment57
Participant inclusion criteria1. A recent (within 12 months) diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease
2. Above the age of 18 years
Participant exclusion criteria1. Severe depression or psychosis
2. Reduced cognition that would preclude active involvement and capacity to consent to participate
3. Unable to understand English
Recruitment start date01/02/2018
Recruitment end date30/05/2019

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

John Radcliffe Hospital
Headley Way
Headington
Oxford
OX3 9DU
United Kingdom
Southampton General Hospital
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Ashford Hospital
London Road
Ashford
TW15 3AA
United Kingdom
St Peter’s Hospital
Guildford Road
Chertsey
KT16 0PZ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Oxford Brookes University
University/education

c/o Ms Kellie Tune
Marston Road Campus
Jack Straw’s Lane
Oxford
OX3 0FL
England
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04v2twj65

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Parkinson's UK; Grant Codes: M6002
Private sector organisation / Associations and societies (private and public)
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date11/06/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planProtocol publication in preparation for a peer-reviewed journal. The results of the study are planned to be published in a peer-reviewed journal around 1 year after the overall trial end date.
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Other publications Qualitative data 10/10/2019 19/05/2023 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No
Results article 09/11/2023 07/04/2025 Yes No

Editorial Notes

07/04/2025: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
19/05/2023: Publication reference added.
21/05/2021: Proactive update review. No publications found. Contacted applicant.
27/03/2019: The condition has been changed from "Specialty: Dementias and neurodegeneration, Primary sub-specialty: Parkinson's Disease; UKCRC code/ Disease: Neurological/ Extrapyramidal and movement disorders" to "Parkinson's Disease" following a request from the NIHR.
31/01/2019: The following changes were made:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 30/05/2018 to 30/05/2019.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 30/11/2018 to 30/11/2019.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 11/06/2019 to 11/06/2020.