PD Connect: a digital dashboard that aims to slow decline for people with Parkinson's

Julie Jones devised PDConnect as part of her PhD work. PDConnect is a multi component intervention which incorporates exercise prescription, education, behaviour changes intervention and self management strategies to support people with Parkinson’s make sustained changes to their exercise behaviour.
PDConnect Stage 2 is to create a digital solution to mirror the original paper-based system, designed to advise and encourage clients to discover new and varied forms of exercise. The dashboard will aim to provide clients with education and strategies to enable clients to optimally self-manage their physical activity, and most importantly ensure that their exercise participation continues in order to optimise tier symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Jo Holland is a person living with Parkinson’s who, after having a heart attack in 2020, was fortunate to be included in the original PDConnect research project. Jo blossomed during the project and was participating in many varied forms of exercise, her fitness levels improved, and her feelings of self-efficacy increased. In June 2021, halfway through the project, Jo fell and shattered her right ankle leaving no choice but to pull out of PDConnect. This was a terrible set back for Jo, which was further compounded with her husband’s diagnosis of prostate cancer. Following nursing her husband through treatment while also recovering from her own injury, the PDConnect study had finished. Recognising the benefits of participating in PDConnect, Jo went in search of other forms of exercise which would benefit her Parkinson’s. Her own determination led to her developing the Parkinson’s Beats exercise drumming group, which provided an excellence source of physical activity and a sense of community. However also made Jo realise that a structured physiotherapy led exercise approach was needed to ensure that exercise prescription was tailored to her needs was required.
Dr Mark Holland is Jo’s stepson, and a senior lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology. His career to date has included researching and working with groups to support their access, inclusion, and engagement in health and performance-based activities. Mark recognises the value of physical activity for the physical, mental, and social health of those living with Parkinson’s and recognises the barriers that might exist for those individuals to engage with physical activity. He believes that PDConnect has real potential to support these individuals. Mark brings a wealth of experience to the team, not only his personal experience of seeing the challenges of living with Parkinson’s, but also his expertise is exercise psychology, and the challenges people with complex long term condition face in relation to exercise.

Julie, Jo and Mark hope to devise an app which will continue the success of PDConnect, that can be made available free of charge to people living with Parkinson’s. The data could be shared with their healthcare professional