A pilot study of therapeutic massage for people with Parkinson's disease: the added value of user involvement.
OBJECTIVE
To carry out a pilot study, with particular attention to adequacy of outcome measures.


METHODS
Observational study and user participation.


METHODS
A local user group selected seven participants with a wide range of illness severity.


METHODS
A course of eight 1hr sessions of deep whole body (therapeutic) massage over 8 weeks.


METHODS
The Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39), the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP), and the Medication Change Questionnaire (MCQ). Semi-structured interviews, before and after the intervention.


RESULTS
In addition to enjoying the massage, individuals showed improvement in self-confidence, well-being, walking and activities of daily living. There was good agreement between data from the outcome questionnaires, interviews and clinical notes. User involvement highlighted issues that would otherwise have been ignored.


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms the benefits of involving users in the research process and makes recommendations concerning the design of any future randomised trial.
Paterson
Charlotte
C
MRC Health Services Research Collaboration, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2PR, UK. c.paterson@bristol.ac.uk
Allen
Jeffrey A
JA
Browning
Margaret
M
Barlow
Gillian
G
Ewings
Paul
P
D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome