EBP Compendium: Summary of Systematic Review
NHS Research and Development Programme for People with Physical and Complex Disabilities; City Hospital NHS Trust; Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund; the Royal Society; Pharmacia Upjohn Limited (United Kingdom)
Systematic Review of Paramedical Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease
Deane, K. H. O., Ellis-Hill, C., et al.
Movement Disorders, 17(5), 984-991.
Indicators of Review Quality:
The review addresses a clearly focused question
Criteria for inclusion of studies are provided
Search strategy is described in sufficient detail for replication
Included studies are assessed for study quality
Quality assessments are reproducible
Description: This review is a synthesis of six Cochrane systematic reviews investigating the efficacy of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy treatments for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Question not specifically stated.
Population: Patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Intervention/Assessment: Speech-language pathology treatments for dysphagia and dysarthria.
Number of Studies Included: 5 studies targeting speech and language treatments
Years Included: Not stated
- General Findings
- The results of this review did not find “conclusive evidence of benefit for any form of paramedical therapy sufficient to recommend them in routine clinical practice. However, this lack of evidence is not proof of a lack of effect” (abstract).
- The authors indicate that the results from speech and language trials "are encouraging, as the improvements measured do appear to be clinically significant” (p. 988).
- Further research is warranted.
- General Findings - No trials were found examining the efficacy of swallowing treatment. Further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of swallowing treatments in Parkinson's disease.
Keywords: Parkinson's Disease
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Added to Compendium: March 2012