title: Online support groups for Parkinson's patients: a pilot study of effectiveness.
abstract: (A) Will PD patients participate in online, professionally led support groups? (B) What are their demographics characteristics and PD severity? (C) Are such groups beneficial? (D) Should patients be grouped for stage of disease? Depression and quality of life were assessed. Sixty-six people were assigned to a 20-week, professionally facilitated online support group. Participants were assigned to one of 2 group types based on patient similarity: homogeneous and heterogeneous. PD patients appear to readily enroll in online groups. Compared to PD patients in traditional support groups, the online were younger, less depressed and had higher quality of life. Dropouts (39%) were high. Overall, patients showed improved quality of life; no overall changes were observed in depression. Participants in the homogenous groups reported a significant decrease in depression.
authors.affiliation: University of California, 3333 California St, box 0824, Suite 475, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA. mal@itsa.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Morton A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winzelberg
authors.forename: Mitch
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golant
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakahiro
authors.forename: Mariann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DiMinno
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aminoff
authors.forename: Chadwick
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christine
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index