Session Information
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2018
Session Title: Parkinson’s Disease: Clinical Trials, Pharmacology And Treatment
Session Time: 1:45pm-3:15pm
Location: Hall 3FG
Objective: To describe the experiences and views of physiotherapists on the specialist training and delivery of the PDSAFE intervention as part the falls prevention trial.
Background: In the United Kingdom, recent NICE guidelines state that all People with Parkinson’s (PwP) should have access to a Specialist Physiotherapist. PwP are twice as likely to fall as the healthy older population and most become repeat fallers. They present with complex pictures of motor and non-motor features and specialist physiotherapists trained in the management of falls are essential. PDSAFE provides an individualised, intensive and progressive, home-based falls prevention programme of exercises and strategies for PwP delivered by physiotherapists. All therapists completed a comprehensive training and professional development programme to become Specialists in Parkinson’s.
Methods: 541 PwP were recruited to the multi-centred, single-blinded, randomised control trial (RCT). In-depth qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sub-group of the treating physiotherapists (n= 6) and 2587 intervention sessions that were analysed. Thematic analysis was used to extract the experiences and views of the therapists.
Results: The physiotherapists were positive about the conceptual underpinning of the PDSAFE programme and its holistic, patient centred focus. The approach, focusing on strategies to enable functional activity, was seen as differing from the prevalent approach used in usual practice, which was described as being exercise driven. They identified cognitive deficits, co-morbidities and dyskinesia to be the most challenging aspects of the intervention delivery. PwP with support, good cognitive ability and motivation were likely to gain the most.
Conclusions: The physiotherapists working on the PDSAFE trial liked the treatment and highly praised the training. The physiotherapists valued the structure of the treatment programme and the clear process for progressing patients.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
K. Seymour, S. Hulbert, V. Goodwin, L. Rochester, A. Nieuwboer, A. Ashburn. ‘PDSAFE’ – A multi-dimensional fall rehabilitation intervention for people with Parkinson’s with specialist physiotherapy training: qualitative exploration of physio’s experiences [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2018; 33 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/pdsafe-a-multi-dimensional-fall-rehabilitation-intervention-for-people-with-parkinsons-with-specialist-physiotherapy-training-qualitative-exploration-of-physio/. Accessed October 5, 2026.« Back to 2018 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/pdsafe-a-multi-dimensional-fall-rehabilitation-intervention-for-people-with-parkinsons-with-specialist-physiotherapy-training-qualitative-exploration-of-physio/