PD_manager

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    PD_manager mHealth platform for Parkinson’s disease management

  • IRAS ID

    218538

  • Contact name

    Heather Gage

  • Contact email

    h.gage@surrey.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Surrey

  • ISRCTN Number

    ISRCTN17396879

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    People with Parkinson's have troublesome symptoms affecting many aspects of their lives. These symptoms fluctuate a lot making it difficult for professionals to assess the nature of the problems of individual patients and make appropriate treatment decisions. This project has designed some devices which patients can wear to continuously monitor their symptoms and provide detailed information to health professionals in order to help them identify more effective management strategies. These devices, which include an insole worn in shoes and a wristband, linked to a smartphone, have been tested on people with Parkinson's in hospital settings and no problems were reported in this initial testing.

    The current stage of testing is to ask twenty people with Parkinson's living in their own homes (with others e.g. family member or friend) to use and evaluate the devices. We will also ask their doctors to assess the information that is generated to see how useful they find it. For comparison, an equal number of people with Parkinson's will be asked to record their symptoms on a daily basis in a diary.

    Those agreeing to participate will be given an appointment to attend the hospital to meet Parkinson’s disease nurse who will collect basic information about their condition/background. They will then be assigned to one of the two groups, i.e. to either receive PD_Manager devices or to use symptom diaries. Those receiving devices will be given instructions on their use and maintenance, and a phone number to call for assistance, if needed. Those allocated diaries will also be given instructions on how to complete them. Symptom monitoring will continue for both groups for two weeks at the end of which participants will return to hospital for consultations with the doctor for assessments and to implement any changes in treatment or referrals that may be indicated.

  • REC name

    London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    17/LO/0574

  • Date of REC Opinion

    11 May 2017

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion