Caregiver tele-support group for Parkinson's disease: A pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disabling neurodegenerative disease that typically affects the geriatric population and requires a caregiver. Although caregiver burden reduces quality of life of the caregiver, support groups for caregivers have not been studied. Offering a tele-support group to PD caregivers would be an innovative approach to extending a novel resource.


METHODS
A single-center pilot study was conducted, enrolling caregivers in an 8-week tele-support group program. Mood state and caregiver burden were assessed at baseline and conclusion of the program using self-report questionnaires. Qualitative feedback was obtained at the conclusion of the program.


RESULTS
Seven female spouse caregivers enrolled; 86% completed the program. Although no statistically significant changes in questionnaire scores were found, the mean Geriatric Depression Scale decreased from 4.2 to 3 and qualitative feedback was universally positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of tele-support groups for PD caregivers is a feasible and innovative resource to address caregiver burden.
Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Ave, Mail Stop #127, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 300 S. 9th Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
Shital P
SP
Shah
Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Ave, Mail Stop #127, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Gretchen L
GL
Glenn
Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Ave, Mail Stop #127, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Eileen M
EM
Hummel
Partners on the Path, LLC, 205 Plymouth Road, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437, USA.
Jane M
JM
Hamilton
Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Ave, Mail Stop #127, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Rebecca R
RR
Martine
Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Ave, Mail Stop #127, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 300 S. 9th Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
John E
JE
Duda
Parkinson's Disease Research, Education and Clinical Center, Philadelphia VA Medical Center, 3900 Woodland Ave, Mail Stop #127, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 300 S. 9th Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Electronic address: jayne.wilkinson@va.gov.
Jayne R
JR
Wilkinson
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D057566:Self Report; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*
Caregiver; Parkinson's disease; Support group; Telehealth; Telemedicine