Session Information
Date: Monday, June 20, 2016
Session Title: Quality of life/caregiver burden in movement disorders
Session Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: Exhibit Hall located in Hall B, Level 2
Objective: This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of an Occupational Therapy (OT) multi-domain group program on preventing fall, improving non-motor symptoms & reducing carers’ stress of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients.
Background: PD patients commonly suffer from motor (e.g. recurrent falls) & non-motor symptoms (e.g. depression, anxiety & cognitive impairments). We explored the effectiveness of a multi-domain program for PD patients & their carers.
Methods: Patients with recurrent falls or persistent high fall risks despite regular out-patient training were recruited to the program. We conducted 2 separate therapeutic groups from July to December 2015, each included 4 patients & their carers. This multi-domain program had 8 consecutive-weekly-sessions on education on PD & fall prevention, relaxation technique, home exercises on balance & body integration, art/craft, and dance movement sessions. Patients were evaluated by occupational therapists before & after program with Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Barthel Index (BI), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS), FRQ, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Beck’s Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Parkinson’s disease Quality of Life Questionnaire 8 (PDQ8), Life Functioning Assessment Inventory (L-FAI); while carers were evaluated using Relative Stress Scale (RSS) & Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI).
Results: 15 subjects (8 patients & 7 carers) participated in this study. Despite there was no statistically significant difference in various outcomes between pre & post treatment, apparent improvements were seen in fall measures (FRQ, 13.5%; UPDRS item on falling), non-motor symptoms (UPDRS part I, 31%), quality of life (PDQ8, 17%), and carers’ stress (RSS, 30%).
Conclusions: Findings of this pilot OT multi-domain group therapy program suggested that program might reduce fall, non-motor symptoms, carers’ stress and improve quality of life.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
R.K.M. Wong, D.S.W. Tsang, C.K.Y. Lau, A.Y.Y. Chan, D.T.M. Chan, X. Zhu, W. Poon, V.C.T. Mok. Effectiveness of occupational therapy multi-domain group therapy program for Parkinson’s disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effectiveness-of-occupational-therapy-multi-domain-group-therapy-program-for-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed May 18, 2025.« Back to 2016 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effectiveness-of-occupational-therapy-multi-domain-group-therapy-program-for-parkinsons-disease/