Pilot randomized controlled trial of the ReFresh online fatigue management programme for people with Parkinson’s disease

Journal Article

2026

Published in: View publication

Fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms experienced by people with Parkinson’s disease, yet few evidence-based non-pharmacological interventions are available. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and exploratory clinical signals of the Rebalancing Fatigue and Enhancing Self-Help (ReFresh) online fatigue management programme.

A pilot randomised controlled trial with a wait-list control design was conducted. A total of 118 participants with Parkinson’s disease and self-reported fatigue were randomised to either a six-week online intervention or usual care. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, adherence, and participant engagement. Secondary outcomes included fatigue severity, fatigue self-efficacy, sleep quality, mood, and occupational performance.

Recruitment targets were exceeded; however, retention and adherence were modest. Participants who completed the programme reported improvements in fatigue self-efficacy and perceived ability to manage fatigue, while changes in fatigue severity were smaller. Qualitative feedback highlighted the value of flexibility and accessibility of the online format.

The ReFresh programme demonstrated feasibility and acceptability as a digitally delivered fatigue management intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease. Future research should focus on improving engagement and evaluating effectiveness in a fully powered randomised controlled trial.

• Publication Work Type: PhD Research / Journal Article
• Publisher Name: Taylor & Francis
• Publishing City: London
• Magazine \ Newspaper: Neurodegenerative Disease Management
• Sponsoring Organization: King Saud University
• School: School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia