Cost-effectiveness of the PDSAFE personalised physiotherapy intervention for fall prevention in Parkinson's: an economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial.

Background: PDSAFE is an individually-tailored, physiotherapist-delivered, balance, strength and strategy training programme aimed at preventing falls among people with Parkinson's. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of PDSAFE compared with usual care for people with Parkinson's at higher risk of falling, from a UK National Health Service and Personal Social Service perspective.

Methods: Resource use and quality of life data (EQ-5D-3L) were collected from 238 participants randomised to the PDSAFE intervention and 236 participants randomised to control, at baseline, 3 months, 6 months (primary outcome), and 12 months.

Participant expectations and experiences of a tailored physiotherapy intervention for people with Parkinson's and a history of falls.

Purpose: People with Parkinson's are twice as likely to fall as older people within the general population. This longitudinal qualitative study was part of a larger programme of research including a randomised controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a tailored physiotherapy intervention. Specific qualitative aims focused on a subsample of trial participants in the intervention arm of the trial, and comprised the following:To explore the expectations of participants about the intervention.

Multicentre, randomised controlled trial of PDSAFE, a physiotherapist-delivered fall prevention programme for people with Parkinson's.

Objective: To estimate the effect of a physiotherapist-delivered fall prevention programme for people with Parkinson's (PwP).

Methods: People at risk of falls with confirmed Parkinson's were recruited to this multicentre, pragmatic, investigator blind, individually randomised controlled trial with prespecified subgroup analyses. 474 PwP (Hoehn and Yahr 1-4) were randomised: 238 allocated to a physiotherapy programme and 236 to control.

"Staying safe" - a narrative review of falls prevention in people with Parkinson's - "PDSAFE".

Parkinson's disease demonstrates a spectrum of motor and non-motor symptoms. Falling is common and disabling. Current medical management shows minimal impact to reduce falls or fall-related risk factors, such as deficits in gait, strength, and postural instability.

It takes two: the influence of dance partners on the perceived enjoyment and benefits during participation in partnered ballroom dance classes for people with Parkinson's.

Purpose: To explore the views of people with Parkinson's and their dance partners on the influence and issues surrounding dancing with an able-bodied dance partner during partnered ball room dance classes.

Methods: In depth, semi-structured interviews explored purposively selected participants' experiences and views about dance classes. Fourteen people with Parkinson's and their dance partners (six spouses, two friends/relatives, five volunteers) were interviewed within a month of completing the 10-week dance class program.

Physical inactivity post-stroke: a 3-year longitudinal study.

Purpose: To explore change in activity levels post-stroke.

Methods: We measured activity levels using the activPAL™ in hospital and at 1, 2 and 3 years' post-stroke onset.

Results: Of the 74 participants (mean age 76 (SD 11), 39 men), 61 were assessed in hospital: 94% of time was spent in sitting/lying, 4% standing and 2% walking.

Impact of stroke-associated infection on long-term survival: a cohort study.

Background And Objective: The effects of stroke-associated infection (SAI) on long-term survival are unclear. We performed a prospective evaluation to explore risk factors of SAI, and compared survival status over the 3 years following stroke onset between those who experienced SAI and those who did not.

Methods: Consecutive patients with acute stroke admitted to a stroke unit between April 2005 and December 2006 were invited to participate.

Self reported adherence to a home-based exercise programme among people with Parkinson's disease.

Background: There is an extensive literature addressing compliance with medication, techniques to measure, and ways to improve it. In comparison the literature concerning adherence to exercise programmes agreed with a physiotherapist is limited.

Objective: We estimate the percentage of exercise repetitions completed of those agreed with a physiotherapist in the context of a six week personalized exercise programme to reduce falling in people with Parkinson's disease, and examine patient characteristics that predict adherence.

In-hospital recruitment to observational studies of stroke.

The objective of this study was to examine recruitment in three observational follow-up studies of patients with stroke, focusing on reasons for nonparticipation and the role of potential factors in explaining recruitment rates. It comprised secondary analysis of the three studies. Recruitment rates varied between the studies.

A randomised controlled trial of a home based exercise programme to reduce the risk of falling among people with Parkinson's disease.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a personalised home programme of exercises and strategies for repeat fallers with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Method: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic PD, independently mobile, living at home in the community, experiencing more than one fall in the previous 12 months and with intact gross cognitive function were invited to participate in this randomised controlled trial. Usual care was compared with a personalised 6 week, home based exercise and strategy programme.

Recruitment to a clinical trial from the databases of specialists in Parkinson's disease.

Background: Many clinical trials involving elderly people living at home suffer from low recruitment. We report our experience of recruiting people with Parkinson's disease (PD) from specialist clinical databases, to a randomised controlled trial of personalized exercise.

Methods: We aimed to recruit 200 repeat fallers with PD.