Objective: To evaluate whether this program improves physical and psychosocial functioning in newly-diagnosed persons with Parkinson’s disease (PWP) over the 12-month period of the intervention and 1 year follow-up.

Background: Extensive research has shown that self-efficacy can mediate behavioral change. By utilizing Bandura’s methods of inculcating self-efficacy, this study was designed to enable individuals to adopt the healthcare behaviors that positively influence effective disease management and quality of life.

Methods: Led by two trained lay facilitators (one with PD), 13 participants and their care partners (Group 1) attended 12 monthly 2-hour meetings designed specifically to introduce and reinforce self-efficacy behaviors. A standard care wait-list control group (Group 2) began with 11 PWP but only 5 remained to participate in the program along with other non-research participants. Patients in both groups were assessed at baseline using the MDS-UPDRS and self-report psychosocial measures. The same measures were repeated at 12 months for Group 1; psychosocial measures were completed at 1 year follow-up. Group 2 completed only the psychosocial measures at 12 months. Due to small sample size, significance level was set at .10.

Results: For Group 1, scores on UPDRS Parts III and IV and 2 self-report physical functioning measures worsened from baseline to post-intervention (p < .10) while scores on the PDQ-39 Emotional Well-Being scale improved (p = .07); there were also trends toward improvement on self-efficacy, perceived support, and stress. From 12 months to follow-up, self-reported physical functioning declined while anxiety, sleep, and aspects of self-efficacy (e.g., ability to manage disease, hope for the future) improved (all p < .05). For Group 2, physical functioning declined during the intervention while there were trends toward improvement on depression, anxiety, perceived support, and stress.

Conclusions: Results suggest that introducing, modeling and supporting self-efficacy enhancing skills appear to contribute to improved psychosocial functioning despite a decline in physical functioning. Maintaining emotional stability in the face of declining health is an important outcome. Results of Group 1 show that participants’ psychosocial functioning continued to improve from the end of the program through 1 year follow-up, suggesting a change in expectations and behavioral patterns.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/impact-of-self-efficacy-education-on-physical-and-psychosocial-functioning-in-newly-diagnosed-parkinson-patients/