Using NMS Assist to help people with Parkinson's manage non-motor symptoms
The Impact of a Digital System on the Monitoring and Self-management of Non-motor Symptoms in People With Parkinson's
This project will ask 30 people with Parkinson's and their care partners to try the NMS Assist smartphone system for six months to see if it helps them notice and manage non-motor symptoms.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Newcastle University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear) |
| Trial ID | NCT07038486 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Parkinson's can cause a range of non-motor symptoms such as pain, sleep, mood and memory problems that often go unrecognized and reduce quality of life. In this single-site interventional project, 30 people with clinically diagnosed Parkinson's and their care partners will use the NMS Assist mobile system for six months while researchers record app usage and collect user-reported changes in knowledge, confidence, and symptom tracking. A smaller subgroup will take part in detailed interviews to explore user experience and help refine the tool's usability. Outcomes focus on engagement and user experience, with secondary measures including self-reported self-management ability and communication with healthcare professionals.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's who are ambulant, not living in a care or nursing home, fluent in English, have a compatible smartphone, and are interested in monitoring non-motor symptoms, together with their care partners.
Not a fit: People without a compatible smartphone, those in nursing homes, non-English speakers, individuals with severe cognitive or physical limitations that prevent app use, or anyone previously involved in developing the system are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, NMS Assist could help people with Parkinson's and their care partners spot non-motor problems earlier, manage them better at home, and have clearer conversations with clinicians.
How similar studies have performed: Other mobile health and telemedicine tools for Parkinson's have shown promise for symptom monitoring and self-management, but long-term and rigorous effectiveness data remain limited, so this is primarily a user-focused feasibility test.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Individuals will be eligible if they meet the following inclusion criteria: All: * Age 18 years or over * Have compatible smartphone/data access (access to a digital device is a necessary prerequisite of system use, and the formative usability study had success in recruiting participants with varying levels of experience with smartphones) * Be fluent in English * Able and willing to provide informed consent * Able and willing to comply with intervention requirements For clinically diagnosed people with Parkinson's (PwP) (ICD-10-CM G20): * Not resident in a care home or nursing home * Ambulant * Interested in monitoring and managing their NMS For CPs: \- Be caring for a clinically diagnosed PwP (ICD-10-CM G20) who is participating in the study Exclusion Criteria: Participants will be ineligible for the study if they meet any of the following exclusion criteria: All: * Previous involvement in the development or testing of the digital system * In a dependent/unequal relationship with the research or care teams or any PPI representatives PwP: * Secondary cause of Parkinsonism * Significant cognitive impairment or a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease dementia * Significant comorbidity, which, in the opinion of the chief investigator, would preclude safe participation in the study or protocol compliance * A life expectancy of \<6 months * Living in residential care facilities
Where this trial is running
Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear
- Newcastle University — Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.