Symposium 2.4 - Songlines for Parkinson’s: The Process of Co-Developing a New Music-and-Movement Group-Based Intervention to Improve Mood and Movement for Parkinson’s

Abstract

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition associated with a loss of dopamine producing cells causing motor (e.g., tremor, disturbed gait) and non-motor symptoms (e.g., apathy, depression) that negatively affect quality of life (Bloem et al., 2021). Due to the range of symptoms, it is necessary to bring together multi-disciplinary teams to develop interventions that are not only effective but also practical to deliver. Moreover, incorporating a range of research disciplines from the outset is essential to ensure both clinical relevance and methodological rigor in the study design. Additionally, participatory research promotes inclusive practice and enables stakeholder expertise to be recognized as a valuable contribution throughout the research cycle.

Methods: Based on preliminary research, we had developed a session framework for a new intervention using music to improve motor and non-motor symptoms for people with Parkinson’s. Our next step was to work in a multidisciplinary way to further explore concepts (e.g., imagery) and to co-develop content (e.g., musical exercises). Through a synthesis of materials including video footage, worksheets, field notes, transcriptions of interviews and feedback forms derived though workshops and interviews with people with Parkinson’s, a range of practitioners and healthcare professionals, and researchers in the UK (in English) and in Switzerland (in German and Italian), we developed a draft protocol for a 12-week course. This was then optimized based on a final round of feedback from stakeholders.

Results: We gained direct methodological insights throughout the co-development and stakeholder feedback processes. Some of these insights led to changes in the protocol, including the addition of two new sections, the revision of rhythmic exercises, and the removal of certain planned content (e.g., singing and syncopation). We also modified our use of language and procedures for kinematic measurement, adjusted standardized questionnaires, and refined our approach to qualitative data collection. Indirect findings underscored the importance of cultural and contextual sensitivity and revealed the bidirectional nature of intervention impact.

Discussion/Conclusion: A new group-based music and movement course, Songlines for Parkinson’s, was co-developed with people with Parkinson’s. The methodological insights gained have shaped the protocol and highlighted strategies for multidisciplinary intervention development that could inform future projects involving the Parkinson’s community and potentially be extended to other groups (Rose et al., 2025).

References

Bloem, B. R., Okun, M. S., & Klein, C. (2021). Parkinson's disease. The Lancet, 397(10291), 2284–2303.https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00218-X

Rose, C.D., Ungerer, M., Köchli, S., Paolantonio, P., Dinacci, D., Foletti, A., Molteni, D., Greenwood, A., Thomas, M., Truran, L., Annett, L. E., Karageorghis, C. I., Whyatt, C., Poliakoff, E., & Short, A. (2025). Songlines for Parkinson’s: The process of co-developing a new music-and-movement group-based intervention to improve mood and movement for Parkinson’s. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, Article 16094069251335453. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251335453