Abstract Details

Title Peer Mentorship in Motion: Community Exercise for People with Parkinson’s Disease

Topic Movement Disorders

Presentation(s) P9 - Poster Session 9 (5:00 PM-6:00 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 16-001

Objective This analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of a social peer mentorship program on participants in community exercise (CE) classes for people with Parkinson's Disease (PwP). We hypothesized that PwP who participated in Community Exercise Plus Social mentorship (CE+S) would report greater improvements in functional outcome measures, better self-efficacy, and higher classes attendance than those who participate in Community Exercise without Social mentorship (CE-S)

Background Community exercise programs for PwP can increase adherence to regular physical activity. PwP often experience a decline in activity participation and functional mobility and may require effective strategies to encourage ongoing participation in community exercise programs. A community exercise program Parkinson’s Pointe (PP) developed a social peer mentorship program to encourage exercise participation.

Design/Methods The study involved 124 PwP who attended at least one community exercise class and were given the option for social mentoring. Data were collected every 6 months and compared between baseline and six months. The outcomes assessed were the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Dual Timed Up and Go test (Dual TUG), 30-second Chair Stand test (CST), and the Self-Efficacy Scale.

Results Demographics of PwP in the CE+S were similar to those in the CE-S group. There were differences between the CE+S and CE-S group changes in the TUG scores (p = 0.013), Dual TUG scores (p = 0.002), and 30 Second Chair Scores (p = 0.006). There were no statistically significant differences in the efficacy survey or class attendance.

Conclusions Participants in the CE+S program demonstrated improvements in functional outcome measures over six months of community exercise classes. However, there was no statistical difference in the self-efficacy and impact surveys between groups, possibly due to the high rankings at baseline (ceiling effects). Further research is warranted to understand the impact of social peer mentorship on self-efficacy.

Authors/Disclosures
Lina A. Kleinschmidt, PT PRESENTER	Dr. Kleinschmidt has nothing to disclose.
Meredith Roberts (Parkinson's Pointe)	No disclosure on file
Amy W. Amara, MD PhD (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center)	The institution of Dr. Amara has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Photopharmics, Inc. The institution of Dr. Amara has received research support from Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research . The institution of Dr. Amara has received research support from Biogen Idec. The institution of Dr. Amara has received research support from NIH.

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