ISRCTN ISRCTN13217913
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13217913
Secondary identifying numbers 34260
Submission date
15/05/2017
Registration date
15/05/2017
Last edited
17/02/2020
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a long-term medical condition which is caused by the gradual loss of nerve cells (neurons) in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. These neurons are normally responsible for producing dopamine, a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) which carries signals around the brain that help to coordinate movement. In people suffering from PD, these neurons gradually die over time, causing the level of dopamine in the brain to gradually fall. As the levels of dopamine become lower, the brain is unable to coordinate movement as effectively, causing abnormal movements such as stiffness, tremor (uncontrollable shaking) and slowness of movement (bradykinesia). Seven out of ten people with PD report having to pass urine frequently or with little warning, often resulting in urinary incontinence. Urinary symptoms are associated with poorer quality of life and admission to long-term care. Medications used to treat urinary symptoms in the general population are untested in people with PD. These medications have widespread effects beyond the bladder. There is growing concern that PD makes people particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of these medications on the brain, increasing patients’ risk of falls, confusion and dementia. Finding alternative evidence based treatments for urinary symptoms has been designated a research priority by people with PD. The aim of this study is to look at the effectiveness of a new bladder-training program for people with PD.

Who can participate?
Adults with PD who are suffering from urinary symptoms.

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive a 30 minute appointment where they are given advice about bladder and bowel care. Those in the second group also receive the conservative advice, with the addition of attending a one hour appointment where they learn about bladder training and urge suppression techniques. Participants in the intervention group will also be taught pelvic floor exercises. A personalised training schedule will be developed for participants to practice, and participants are followed up by phone every two weeks. After 12 weeks, the groups are then compared to see if bladder training is better than conventional treatment for urinary problems in Parkinson’s.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants who receive the program may benefit from an improvement to their bladder symptoms. There are no notable risks involved with participating.

Where is the study run from?
Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2016 to April 2018

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Claire McDonald
Claire.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Claire McDonald
Scientific

Clinical Ageing Research Unit
Campus for Ageing and Vitality
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5PL
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-7592-9952
Phone +44 191 2081295
Email claire.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Education or Self-Management, Psychological & Behavioural, Physical, Rehabilitation
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleImproving Parkinson's Related OVEractive bladder
Study acronymIMPROVE
Study hypothesisThe aim of this study is to evaluate whether bladder training in combination with pelvic floor exercises improve troublesome bladder symptoms in Parkinson's disease is better than conservative measures alone.
Ethics approval(s)Northeast Tyne and Wear South Research Ethics Committee, 18/04/2017, ref: 17/NE/0095
ConditionSpecialty: Dementias and neurodegeneration, Primary sub-specialty: Parkinson's Disease; UKCRC code/ Disease: Neurological/ Other degenerative diseases of the nervous system
InterventionParticipants will be randomised in 1:1 (stratified by sex) to one of two groups.

Control group: Participants attend a single 30 minute appointment to receive standard conservative advice regarding bladder and bowel care (including hydration, management of constipation and containment products).

Intervention group: In addition to attending a 30 minute appointment to receive standard conservative advice, participants will have a 1 hour appointment to explain bladder training and urge suppression techniques. Participants in the intervention group will also be taught pelvic floor exercises. A personalised training schedule will be developed for patients in the intervention group. This will be supported by written information and a training DVD. They will receive a phone call from trained health care professional every 2 weeks to discuss their progress. After assessing participants progress over the phone a new set of training targets will be agreed.

The intervention last 12 weeks. Both groups will be asked to complete a bladder diary at 12 weeks and attend clinic to complete clinical examination and questionnaire pack.

At 20 weeks both groups will be asked to complete a final set of questionnaires to assess is and effect is sustained after the intensive follow-up phase.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measure1. Number of urgency episodes on 3 day bladder diary from baseline to 12 weeks
2. Global measure of improvement (much improved, a little improved, no change, worse much worse) is measured by visual analogue scale at 12 weeks

All primary and secondary measures will be repeated 20 week to see if improvements are sustained once the intervention is completed.
Secondary outcome measures1. Patient perception of bladder control is measured using baseline at 12 weeks
2. Number of incontinence episodes is measured using bladder diary baseline at 12 weeks
3. Number of micturition during day is measured using bladder diary baseline at 12 weeks
4. Number of nocturnal voids is measured using bladder diary baseline at 12 weeks
5. Average volume voided per micturition is measured using bladder diary baseline at 12 weeks
6. Maximum postural drop on standing is measured using bladder diary baseline at 12 weeks
7. bladder symptoms are measured using the ICIQ-OAB score at baseline and 12 weeks
8. Patient quality of life is measured using the ICIQ-OAB_QOL and PDQ 39 questionnaires at baseline and 12 weeks
9. Patient satisfaction with bladder control is measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) at …
10. Non-motor symptom score is measured using PDUKNon-motor symptom score at baseline and 12 weeks
11. Carer quality of life is measured using the OAB-fim and PDQ carer questionnaire at baseline and 12 weeks

All primary and secondary measures will be repeated 20 week to see if improvements are sustained once the intervention is completed.
Overall study start date01/04/2016
Overall study end date04/04/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participantsPlanned Sample Size: 144; UK Sample Size: 144
Total final enrolment38
Participant inclusion criteria1. Idiopathic Parkinson's disease
2. Urinary symptoms defined as one or more of the following:
2.1. Urinary frequency (need to pass urine 7 or more times during the day)
2.2. Urgency: A sudden compelling desire to pass urine which is difficult to defer accessed
2.3. Urge incontinence : involuntary leakage of urine accompanied by/ or immediately preceded by urgency
2.4. Mixed urinary incontinence: involuntary leakage associated with urgency and also with exertion, effort, sneezing or coughing. Where clinically urge incontinence is the major component
2.5. Over active bladder: urgency combined with frequency or nocturia (need to pass urine one or more times a night)
Participant exclusion criteria1. Dementia such that they cannot follow training program or a Montreal Cognitive Assessment Score <24
2. Indwelling catheter
3. Renal failure requiring dialysis
4. Congestive cardiac failure requiring diuretic therapy
5. Current urinary tract infection confirmed by on microscopy
6. Completed bladder training in the last 12 months
7. Known prostate cancer or clinical evidence of this conditions
8. Uncontrolled bladder outlet obstruction / BPH
9. Pelvic organ prolapse past the vaginal introits
10. Known bladder malignancy or persistent haematuria on dipstick
11. Urinary retention >200ml on post void bladder scan
12. Previous Urogynecological Surgery for incontinence
12. Poorly controlled diabetes
Recruitment start date11/05/2017
Recruitment end date14/09/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Clinical Ageing Research Unit
Campus for Ageing and Vitality
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 5PL
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road
High Heaton
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE
NE7 7DN
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 191 282 5959
Email Andrew.Johnston@nuth.nhs.uk
Website http://www.newcastle-hospitals.org.uk/about-us/research-and-newcastle-hospitals.aspx
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/05p40t847

Funders

Funder type

Government

Parkinson's UK
Private sector organisation / Associations and societies (private and public)
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/06/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryOther
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication of data in high impact peer reviewed journals and at scientific meetings.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 31/03/2020 17/02/2020 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

17/02/2020: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.
08/11/2017: The ISRCTN prospective/retrospective flag compares the date of registration with the recruitment start date and does not include any grace period. The registration of this study was requested through the NIHR Portfolio and was finalised within 6 months of the recruitment starting.
19/05/2017: Verified study information with principal investigator.