A Reminder App for Supporting Adherence to Treatment Goals in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's Disease is a progressive condition which affects the nervous system causing tremors, slowed movement and often causes problems with memory and initiation. Treatment management can be complex and challenging for patients and families. Poor memory in Parkinson's disease has been shown to reduce a person's ability to manage activities of daily living, including tasks associated with treatment such a taking medications. However, patients with Parkinson's have been shown to benefit from external reminders.

The aim of this research project is to investigate whether the use of a reminder app that has been designed for use by people with cognitive difficulties improves completion of activities related to therapy goals in people with Parkinson's Disease, aiding self-management of their condition.

Patients seen in movement disorder clinics in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, and a partner or carer who can monitor progress, will be invited to participate. Measures of memory, emotional wellbeing and quality of life will be completed to characterise each participant. Participants will have a randomly allocated initial baseline period of either 10, 16 or 22 days in which their rate of completion of intended activities will be monitored. Then, during the intervention period of 3 weeks (21 days) the ApplTree app will be introduced to remind participants of treatment goals. Participants will create specific and personalised treatment goals at the beginning of the monitoring period. Goals will be everyday activities relevant to the management and treatment of Parkinson's disease. The number of goals is not limited and will depend on how frequent targeted behaviours are. However, at least one target behaviour a day in total will be recommended. E.g. Completing daily exercises. Partners will monitor their goal attainment, via a daily/weekly monitoring form in both phases of the study.