Motivational Interviewing and Physical Activity Change in Parkinson's Disease

Motivational Interviewing and Physical Activity Change in Parkinson's Disease

The purpose of this study is to test the efficacy of a 6-month telephone-based motivational interviewing intervention and a web-based application intervention to improve physical activity in participants with Parkinson's Disease.

Participants will be randomized into one of four groups to examine two separate interventions. The groups are: motivational interviewing (a counseling/coaching style), a web-based application for participants to keep track of their physical activity, a combination of the motivational interviewing and the web-based application, and an educational program on various issues related to Parkinson's Disease. The intervention will last 6 months with a follow-up appointment at 9 months. Participants will be asked to come to Galter Pavilion at Northwestern Memorial Hospital or Shirley Ryan AbilityLab a total of five times over the course of the nine months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Community dwelling
• Age 18 or older
• Physician confirmed diagnosis of PD with Hoehn and Yahr stage ≤3
• Ability to ambulate independently (walker is allowed) for distance of 50 feet or 10 minutes at a time
• Does not meet current CDC physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
• Currently and plans to have a smartphone, tablet, or computer and access to the internet for the next 9 months
• Willing to monitor activity on their smartphone, tablet, or computer via a web-based application during the 9-month program
• Currently uses the internet in a basic capacity

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to speak and understand English
• Has a cardiovascular disorder or other health condition that would make exercise unsafe according to their physician
• Patients who are currently receiving physical therapy or received physical therapy one month prior to study enrollment
• Cognitive impairment as defined by inability to provide informed consent and to self-report feelings and behaviors
• Montreal Cognition Scale (MOCA): rating of less than 24, indicative of cognitive dysfunction
• Patients who indicate it is not recommended they participate in increased physical activity as indicated by the Physical Activity Restriction Questionnaire (PAR-Q)
• Patients who are in other studies that monitor fitness or physical activity