Journal Article

Irish set dancing classes for people with Parkinson's disease: The needs of participants and dance teachers

Shanahan, Joanne, Clifford, Amanda M., Bhriain, Orfhlaith Ní, Volpe, Daniele, Morris, Meg E.

2016

Overview

•Needs of people with Parkinson’s disease and set dance teachers were examined to facilitate development of dance classes.•Results will inform an educational resource for set dance teachers delivering classes to people with Parkinson’s disease. This will facilitate the availability of more set dance classes in local communities for people with Parkinson’s disease.•Clinicians and dance instructors may use the findings to deliver participant-centered classes in other dance genres. As the number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease increases, there is a need to develop initiatives that promote health and wellbeing and support self-management. Additionally, as exercise may slow physical decline, there is a need to develop methods that facilitate greater engagement with community-based exercise. The aim of this study is to examine the needs of (1) people with Parkinson’s disease and (2) set dancing teachers to enable the development of participant-centred community set dance classes. A mixed methods study design was used. Two consensus group discussions using nominal group technique were held to (1) identify factors pertaining to the needs of people with Parkinson’s disease from a set dance class and (2) the educational needs of set dancing teachers to enable them to teach set dancing to people with Parkinson’s disease. Group discussions began with silent generation of ideas. A round-robin discussion and grouping of ideas into broader topic areas followed. Finally, participants ranked, by order of priority (1–5), the topic areas developed. Final data analysis involved summation of participants’ ranking scores for each topic area. Rich information on the needs of people with Parkinson’s disease from a dance class and the educational guidance sought by set dancing teachers was gathered. Topic areas developed include “teaching method” for set dances and “class environment”. Accessing community exercise programmes is important for this population. The results of this study will inform the development of an educational resource on Parkinson’s disease for set dancing teachers. This resource may facilitate a larger number of teachers to establish sustainable community set dancing classes for people with Parkinson’s disease.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Aged / Community exercise programmes / Dance / Dancing - psychology / Ecstasy / Education / Exercise / Exercise - psychology / Female / Humans / Internal Medicine / Male / Medical Education / Methods / Nominal group technique / Parkinson Disease - psychology / Parkinson Disease - rehabilitation / Parkinson's disease / Participation / Physical fitness / Quality of life / Self Care - psychology / Teaching / Teaching - psychology