Researchers of a two-arm, assessor-masked pilot randomized controlled trial (N=25) tested an individual, videoconference delivery of the Packer Managing Fatigue program for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who report severe fatigue, comparing it with usual care. Outcomes included occupational performance and satisfaction, occupational balance, fatigue impact, quality of life, and sleep. Mixed-design ANOVA suggested a trend toward a Time × Group interaction for satisfaction with performance (p=0.09), and within the intervention group, satisfaction improved significantly (p=0.04) with a moderate effect size. Small-to-moderate effects were also observed for occupational balance, occupational performance, and some fatigue subscales, while other measures showed negligible changes. The curriculum emphasized practical energy-conservation strategies such as pacing, planned rest breaks, task simplification, and sleep hygiene.
Despite the small sample and COVID-19–related challenges, the study supports feasibility and preliminary benefit of this telehealth fatigue-management program for PD. The authors recommend larger, more rigorous trials with longer follow-up to confirm effectiveness, refine outcome selection, determine sample sizes, and assess longer-term impact. Effect-size estimates from this pilot can help power a definitive trial and elevate satisfaction with performance as a likely primary endpoint.
Reference: Alizadeh N, Packer T, Sturkenboom I, Warner G, Rigby H. Managing fatigue in Parkinson’s disease: Preparing for a randomized controlled trial. J Parkinsons Dis. 2025:1877718X251388329. doi: 10.1177/1877718X251388329.
