ImPROve

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Improving Parkinson's Related Overactive Bladder

• IRAS ID

  219254

• Contact name

  Claire McDonald

• Contact email

  claire.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 1 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  Seven out of ten people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) report having to pass urine frequently or with little warning, often resulting in urinary incontinence. Urinary symptoms are associated with poorer quality of life and admission to long-term care.
  Medications used to treat urinary symptoms in the general population are untested in people with PD. These medications have widespread effects beyond the bladder. There is growing concern that PD makes people particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of these medications on the brain, increasing patients’ risk of falls, confusion and dementia. Finding alternative evidence based treatments for urinary symptoms has been designated a research priority by people with PD.

  In the general population, bladder training can improve bladder control, reduce the need to rush to the toilet and decrease incontinence. A small preliminary study, performed in 17 people with Parkinson’s, suggested bladder training may be helpful but further investigation is needed to confirm this treatment is effective.
  This study will allow us to
  1. Develop a standardised bladder training program suitable for people with PD
  2. Perform a pilot study in 72 patients to assess the feasibility of delivering this program as part of a clinical trial.
  3. Ensure standard outcome measures used in clinical trials in the general population are pertinent and manageable for people with PD who have manual dexterity and mobility difficulties.
  4. Design future studies so that they include sufficient participants to establish if new treatments for urinary symptoms are effective and safe in PD.

• REC name

  North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/NE/0095

• Date of REC Opinion

  4 Apr 2017

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion