Objective: To identify which exercise program attributes most commonly drive willingness of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to participate in evidence-based exercise programs.

Background: A core principle of patient-centered healthcare is the need for healthcare systems to offer interventions that are not only effective, but that also have high likelihood of being adopted. However, no research is available identifying features of exercise programs that enhance adoption of evidence-based exercise programs in people with PD.

Methods: 211 people with PD (117 male, mean age 65, SD 8 years), without dementia, completed an anonymous online (166) or paper-based (45) survey.  Using a discrete choice experiment, participants were randomized to see one set of 12 hypothetical exercise programs, from four possible sets.  Participants were asked to decide whether or not they would adopt each program in addition to their current exercise routine.  We used a mixed logit model to estimate participant preferences for attributes of exercise programs; all analyses were conducted in NLOGIT 5.0.  Results are expressed as odds (95% CI) of adding the new program to their existing activities.

Results: Participants were more likely to agree to an additional program as physical (OR=1.91 (95%CI 1.59-2.29) and psychological benefits increased (OR=1.74 (1.43-2.12), per unit of improvement.  Participants preferred i) fewer additional sessions (OR = 0.54 (0.43-0.68) per additional session; ii) lower travel time (OR=0.54 (0.42-0.69) per extra 15 minutes travel time each way; iii) lower cost (OR=0.53 (0.0.43-0.65) per extra $10.  Compared to a base level of a dance program, participants preferred a balance (OR=1.95 (1.12-3.38); strength (1.94 (1.11-3.39) or combined balance and strength program (1.73 (1.03 – 2.91); aerobic programs were significantly less preferred to a dance program (0.46 (0.23-0.96).  There was a trend for participants to prefer supervision from physiotherapists (OR=1.66 (0.96-2.85) or instructors (OR=1.73 (0.92-3.29) with experience in PD. 

Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that people with PD prefer balance and strength programs delivering physical and psychological benefits.  Lower cost, travel time and number of sessions per week were also preferred.  Healthcare providers can utilise this information to enhance exercise delivery and adoption in people with PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/exercise-preferences-of-people-with-parkinsons-disease-preliminary-findings-of-a-discrete-choice-experiment/