OPTIM-PARK 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
OPTIM-PARK II - A new intervention for optimisation of community resources and systems of support to enhance the process of living with Parkinson’s Disease: a feasibility trial
IRAS ID
308776
Contact name
mc PORTILLO
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 0 days
Research summary
This project aims to test if a new intervention designed for people living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) can be used in practice.
Many people with PD contact health services to receive support and care, meeting with professionals from different services and organisations. At the moment there is not a single point of contact and people have to search what is available for them and where to go.
We have designed with the help of patients, carers and professionals a new intervention, called OPTIM-PARK. It will bring all collaborations of care together to support people living with PD. In the first iterative phase (Months 1-2) of the project we will pilot and make any changes needed to the recruitment and intervention procedures as well as informing stakeholders in the Wessex area about the intervention to support recruitment. These stakeholders will be asked to identify and inform people with Parkinson’s about the study The second phase will involve people with PD and their families and signpost them to personalised resources (for 4 months).
We will test the intervention in 2 geographical areas (Salisbury and Portsmouth) within Wessex. Two clinics in each area will participate in the delivery of the intervention (usual care vs intervention).All patient participants who agree to take part will be assessed at point of entry to the study (baseline) and three months later (follow up). Assessments will include information about living with Parkinson’s and other instruments.
60 people with Parkinson’s and family carers will be recruited and allocated to the intervention group or to the control group, receiving usual care. We anticipate that approximately 30 people with Parkinson’s and their carers will receive the intervention.
At the end of the study lay summary information about the findings of the study will be shared with study participants.
Summary of results
The Optim Park, April 2019-December 2022, aimed to establish the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention that will enhance the process of living with PD for patients and family-carers by building multisectoral care pathways, with a special focus on how to optimize the use of resources and systems of support in the community in disadvantaged populations of different European countries.
The Optim Park consortium was composed of 4 countries (Denmark, Norway, Spain and UK (coordinators)). running according to plans considering we are reporting a period of 9 months (the project starting in April 2019). The consortium has worked efficiently and important professional and personal links have been established across partners.
Covid 19 happened during key stages of the Optim Park Project and collaborative work of the consortium face to face. However, the project continued and with some adjustments (remote meetings and data collection) and acceptable delays, the research was completed.
A total of 6 WPs were completed: 1. Patient and public involvement, 2. Evidence on systems of support and integrated care for people with PD, 3. Roles and working relationships between agencies and leves of care, 4. Feasibility trial, 5. Dissemination and 6. Management.
The research design of the Optim Park project included reviews of evidence and statutory documents, qualitative research (166 interviews with people with PD, carers, stakeholders and professionals), and quantitative research (feasibility trial of a designed intervention with 220 participants including people with PD and family carers). Our findings led to the design of an intervention that consisted of introducing the PD coordinator role and personalised assessment of needs, prioritisation of needs and referral to community resources with follow up.
We have developed a very strong and sustainable PPI plan for this project and we have liaised with key national voluntary organisations for PD and clinical sites, which were essential for the delivery and implementation plans of our work.
Dissemination of the project took place through scientific and lay routes.
Additional funding has been secured throughout the life of the Optim Park project for next research steps, the PD Coordinator role in the UK, exchange opportunities for PhD candidates and development of young researchers and postdoctoral mobility. A large Programme Grant for Applied Research looking at the full testing and application of our intervention to people with multiple long term conditions has been submitted in the UK and is awaiting outcomeREC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0131
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jul 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion