title: Activity engagement and health quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This descriptive study examined differences in health quality of life (HQoL) and activity engagement in two groups of people with Parkinson's disease (PD): those who regularly participated in classes offered by the community-based program, Brooklyn Parkinson's Group (BPg), and a comparison group. Individuals in the comparison group did not participate in any community-based programs for people with PD, and were recruited from a clinic for PD and related disorders (PDRD) in an urban medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 26 participants; 13 participants were recruited from BPg and 13 from PDRD Clinic. Activity engagement was measured using the Activity Card Sort (ACS) and HQoL was measured using the PD Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Additionally, each participant completed a brief, interview-based questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant difference was found in ACS scores between the BPg and comparison groups. BPg participants showed higher activity retention scores in all domains measured by the ACS. There was no statistically significant difference in PDQ-39 scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides preliminary evidence that regular participation in community programs like BPg may increase retention rates of activity engagement in people with PD. Participation in BPg programs, though, was not shown to improve HQoL as measured by the PDQ-39. Implications for Rehabilitation Continued participation in a wide repertoire of activities is a valuable rehabilitation goal for clients with Parkinson's disease (PD). People with PD who participate in specially designed community-based programs are more likely to retain a wide repertoire of activity and role engagement, as compared to people with PD who do not have acess to these programs.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Program, College of Health Related Professions, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center (SUNY Downstate) , Brooklyn, NY , USA .
authors.forename: Joyce S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sabari
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pallatto
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yagerman
authors.forename: Sofya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glazman
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bodis-Wollner
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010358:Patient Participation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Community activity; Parkinson’s disease; engagement; participation; quality of life