Date of Award

2018

Degree Type

Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review

Degree Name

Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Department Chair

John Cavenagh, MBA, PhD, PA-C

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not tango can help improve the quality of life for patients with Parkinson’s Disease.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of three peer-reviewed primary studies published between the years of 2013 and 2015.

DATA SOURCES: Two randomized control trials and one non-randomized control trial evaluating if tango can improve the quality of life for patients who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Sources were selected from PubMed and Google Scholar based off of the relevance to the clinical question and outcomes being patient oriented.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The outcomes measured in each of these trials affect patients who are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in regards to their quality of life. These outcomes include: motor severity measured by Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPRDS-3)6, every day fall incidence measured by everyday fall incidence outside of class7, and participation of new activities measured by the Activity Card Sort8.

RESULTS: The study conducted by Foster et al. 8 showed significant improvement in the onset of new activities (p=0.003) for the patients who were in the experimental tango group. However, the other two studies conducted by Rios Romenets et al,6 evaluating motor severity, and by McKee et al.7, evaluating every day fall incidences, did not have significant findings.

CONCLUSIONS: The evidence presented in this review is inconclusive as to whether or not tango can improve the quality of life for patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Only one study had significant results (Foster et al.8), whereas the other two studies did not have significant findings. However, due to the limitations of these studies, the concept of tango improving the quality of life for patients diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease should not be ruled out. Further research is warranted.

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