PaNTher

PaNTher – Parkinson´s Network Therapy in Munich

Effectiveness and feasibility of a Parkinson specific, guideline-based physiotherapy

Funded by: AOK Bayern

In Cooperation with: AOK Bayern, Schön Klinik München Schwabing

Period: 2020-2025

Background:

Idiopathic Parkinson´s disease causes significant limitations in mobility, physical activity and balance over time. These limitations can lead to restrictions in independence, participation and reduced quality of life. Furthermore, they are associated with a higher risk of injuries and falls that require higher costs for rehabilitation or hospitalisation. Therefore, Parkinson specific and targeted physiotherapy interventions that counteract motor impairments and functional limitations are required to improve quality of life and to avoid excessive costs despite the progressive course of the Parkinson´s disease.

The Schön Klinikum München Schwarbing has developed a Parkinson specific, guideline-bases physiotherapy in cooperation with the “Parkinson´s Network Therapy” and has trained physiotherapists working in the out-patient field in the city and district of Munich. Patients with Parkinson's disease, insured at the AOK health insurance company, can be enrolled in a model project.

Project Aims

The aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness of the Parkinson specific, guideline-based physiotherapy in patients with idiopathic Parkinson´s disease. Alongside the study, a process evaluation will be conducted. The process evaluations aims to identify barriers and facilitators in the implementation of the intervention. The results of the process evaluation can contribute to an optimized intervention.

Specific aims are:

• To examine the acceptance and feasibility of the intervention among the target groups of physiotherapists trained in this intervention and patients with Parkinson´s disease.
• To compare the motor skills and functionality as well as quality of life after six and 12 months between patients receiving the Parkinson specific, guideline-based physiotherapy and patients without this intervention.
• To examine the cost-effectiveness of the intervention comparing hospital stay and use of medication between patients receiving the Parkinson specific, guideline-based physiotherapy and patients without this intervention.

The central hypothesis behind the project is the assumption, that the intervention improves efficiency and effectiveness, and therefore has the potential to be included in the remedy catalog.

Coordination centre for the process evaluation is located at the Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (working team of Prof. Dr. Eva Grill).

Contact: Ari Hauser