Objective: To develop a consensus-based summary of key components that people with lived experience, clinicians and researchers find important to include in an assessment tool and intervention targeting safer mobility behaviour in people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD).

Background: Safer mobility behaviour is an emerging concept that has been suggested as a common-sense approach for fall prevention in PwPD due to its consideration of both movement and cognitive strategies. There is currently no outcome measure designed to assess this for PwPD and an optimal intervention that targets safer mobility behaviour remains unknown.

Method: A modified Delphi study was conducted over three rounds for a lived experience expert panel (PwPD and their care-partners) and a clinician/researcher expert panel (physiotherapists, occupational therapists and/or researchers in Parkinson’s disease). Key assessment and intervention components were generated using semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. These items were then rated on a five-point Likert scale of importance and ranked based on relative importance over two survey rounds. Consensus was set at 80%.

Results: A total of 60 lived experience and 43 clinician/researcher experts participated.  Thirteen core components for assessment and intervention were identified along with three assessment methods and the involvement of caregivers and technology [Table 1]. After the final round, consensus was reached that all previously identified assessment and intervention components, along with caregiver involvement, were important to target safer mobility behaviour. No consensus was reached on the use of technology for assessment. The top two assessment components ranked by both panels was the consideration of physical and cognitive ability. The top three intervention components ranked by both panels was the inclusion of exercise, movement strategy training and cognitive strategy training.

Conclusion: This study identifies the key components that should be included in the development of future assessments and interventions that target safer mobility behaviour in PwPD. Both panels emphasised that safer mobility behaviour is a holistic concept, requiring a combination of these components to address the complexities and individuality of mobility behaviour.

Table 1. Assessment and intervention components

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/key-components-for-safer-mobility-behaviour-assessment-and-intervention-for-people-with-parkinsons-disease-a-modified-delphi-study/