Parkinsons NSW - Clinical Trials & Studies

Clinical Trials & Studies

From time to time we are looking for people that are interested in being involved in various clinical trials and studies that aid research into Parkinson's disease.

Dr Stuart Smith

At-Home Testing Device

'At Home' Testing Device

Internet Connection

Remote Device

Remote Testing Device

In-home monitoring of Neuromotor Function

Parkinson's NSW awarded a $20,000 seed grant to Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute's Dr Stuart Smith to help fund this project.

The aim of the project is to evaluate the use of a recently developed telehealth device for monitoring a selected group of people with PD. The device will record, on a weekly basis, motor function in individuals with Parkinson's Disease and provide both the individual and their clinician ready access to functional data via a web- based interface. The data from the study will provide an insight into the potential application of in-home monitoring of Parkinson's function for individuals living in metropolitan, rural and remote communities in Australia.

Since April 2009, they have been working closely with the US-based Kinetics Foundation to develop a series of testing protocols appropriate for an Australian context. Delivery of 20 devices for deployment into the homes of individuals living with Parkinson's Disease is expected in late September 2009.

Initial pilot trials of the devices will take place in 5 households in Sydney during the latter part of 2009. All 20 devices will be distributed to households in the Sydney metropolitan and Coffs Harbour regional centres for a six month study beginning January 2010. A medical research officer from the Netherlands (Paulien Verhoef) has also been recruited to work on the project beginning January 2010.
This project will be completed and submitted for publication by the end of 2010. A summary of results will be made available in a later edition of Stand By Me.
If you would like to know more about the study, or if you have been diagnosed within the past 5 years and would like to participate in the study, please contact:
Dr Stuart Smith at Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute
Barker Street Randwick, NSW 2031
Telephone: 02 9399 1629 e-Mail: s.smith@powmri.edu.au

Patients with Parkinson's disease on-line questionnaire

Caregivers of Parkinson's patients on-line questionnaire

Parkinson's Disease Caregiver and Patient Research

Our projects aim to explore the relationship between symptom severity, illness representations and coping strategies on quality of life and psychological distress for patients with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers respectively. Research strongly indicates health outcomes for caregivers and patients may be associated with their perceptions of Parkinson's disease and the coping styles they engage in to deal with their illness experiences. Hence, this investigation may help to improve the lives of both caregivers and patients by enabling a greater understanding of the factors contributing to Parkinson's disease caregiver and patient wellbeing.

We are seeking English-speaking Parkinson's disease patients or caregivers over the age of 18. Participation involves completing the online questionnaire, which will take approximately 30 minutes, and can be completed in your own time from any device that has access to the internet.

Prevention of Falls in Parkinson's Disease

Join a study looking at exercise for Falls Prevention in people with Parkinson's disease. Do you have Parkinson's disease? You could be eligible to participate in a study aimed at preventing falls in people with Parkinson's disease. The project will determine the effect of advice versus advice plus exercise in reducing the risk of falls. This project is being conducted by a team of researchers at The University of Sydney in association with Parkinson's NSW. If you would like to be involved or would like further information, please contact:
Dr Colleen Canning
Senior Lecturer
Discipline of Physiotherapy
The University of Sydney
Ph: 9351 9263 Mobile: 0415 576 161

We invite you to participate in Louise Cooper's on-line survey.

Parkinson's, Employment & Quality of Life

If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson's and are still working, researcher Louise Cooper is keen to hear from you! Her research project, Parkinson's, Employment and Quality of Life, which is being conducted through Swinburne University is an opportunity for working people with Parkinson's to tell how it really is. Given the increasing prevalence of Parkinson's in people of working age, and the myriad of challenges and concerns that this raises, it's vital that health professionals, rehabilitation specialists and employers have access to information that will optimise working conditions for people with Parkinson's. Read full article

You are invited to participate in a telephone survey that will ask you about any bowel and or bladder problems you may be experiencing following a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

Information for Participants

Participant consent form

Bowel & Bladder Survey
Joanne Lawrence has worked as a Registered Nurse since 1981. Most of her clinical experience has been gained working with people who have acquired congenital or chronic disabling conditions.
She holds two positions the first as an academic at the Australian Catholic University. The second, as a Clinical Nurse Consultant at a Private Rehabilitation Centre, where she conducts a regular Bowel and Bladder Management Clinic.

Joanne is currently undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Medicine, at Sydney University. Her thesis is entitled "The significance and impact of bowel and bladder dysfunction on personal burden for people who have Parkinson's disease.
Many people with Parkinson's disease complain of bowel and bladder symptoms like constipation and of waking up frequently at night to pass urine to name but a few. However very little is known about what affect these and other bowel and bladder difficulties have on your lifestyle.