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Rogers A, Richfield EW, Thomas S, Wee B, Trotter SA. Parkinson’s disease and palliative care: a quality of care Delphi study. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2022; 13:255-262. [DOI: 10.1136/spcare-2022-003904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
ObjectivesExtending palliative care services to those with long-term neurological conditions is a current aim of UK health policy. Lack of holistic guidelines for palliative and end-of-life care, and differing models of service provision, has resulted in heterogeneity in care access and quality. There is a need for evidence-based standards of care to audit Parkinson’s services and drive improvements.MethodsA two-stage Delphi process was used to achieve consensus on statements that define quality standards in palliative care for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). An expert panel was selected to comprise healthcare professionals, patients and carers based in the UK; this panel evaluated the statements via a Delphi survey. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the results informed modifications between the Delphi rounds.ResultsA final set of 16 statements was produced, reflecting aspirational standards of palliative care in PD. These statements, split into four domains (‘Structures and processes of care’, ‘Preparing for the end of life’, ‘ Care in the last weeks of life’ and ‘Care in the last days of life’) underline the importance of joint working between generalist and specialist services, individualised care and early and regular advance care planning.ConclusionsThe Delphi process has established a set of standards which can be integrated within and guide services, helping to improve the quality and equality of care. Further work remains to establish the effectiveness of different models of service provision, including the implementation of keyworkers and telemedicine.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that negatively impacts the lives of affected people. The therapeutic benefits of treatment only decrease going forward from the time of diagnosis. Motor and non-motor symptoms alike create a heavy burden for patients and those involved in their care. Palliative care is utilized for patients with serious illnesses and when integrated into patients with Parkinson's disease, improves quality of life by addressing symptoms of discomfort, which ultimately reduces symptom burden to patients and alleviates caregiver stress. OBJECTIVE This review aims to assess the efficacy of palliative care in the management of Parkinson's disease by exploring the benefits of palliative care integration throughout multiple relevant themes to demonstrate the optimal care delivery. METHODS Comprehensive searches on the role of palliative care in Parkinson's disease patients within MEDLINE, PUBMED, CINAHL, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, Embase, and BioMed Central, considering publications between March 2010 - February 2020 were performed. A grey literature search was also performed for additional information. RESULTS Analysis of various existing literature has demonstrated promise in timely palliative care integration for patients with Parkinson's disease, which has shown improvement in the quality of life of Parkinson's disease patients. It also strives to alleviate caregivers' stress and improve their quality of life, although insufficient research exists to support this. Palliative care in Parkinson's disease is a growing area of interest, evidently demonstrating the potential to expand among the current approaches. CONCLUSION Understanding the connections between the themes surrounding palliative care is crucial for successful integration in Parkinson's disease management. It is determined that integration of palliative care in patients with Parkinson's disease help to not only improve patients' experiences but also their caregiver's experiences throughout the disease trajectory. Further research should be conducted to address how palliative care will focus on alleviating caregiver burden and establish specific prognostication tools for Parkinson's disease patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Senderovich
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Division of Palliative Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baycrest, Toronto, Canada
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Lennaerts-Kats H, Ebenau A, van der Steen JT, Munneke M, Bloem BR, Vissers KCP, Meinders MJ, Groot MM. "No One Can Tell Me How Parkinson's Disease Will Unfold": A Mixed Methods Case Study on Palliative Care for People with Parkinson's Disease and Their Family Caregivers. JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE 2021; 12:207-219. [PMID: 34542031 PMCID: PMC8842750 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-212742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: Palliative care for persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is developing. However, little is known about the experiences of patients with PD in the palliative phase and of their family caregivers. Objective: To explore needs of patients with PD in the palliative phase and of their family caregivers. Methods: A mixed methods case study design. Health care professionals included patients for whom the answer on the question “Would you be surprised if this patient died in the next 12 months?” was negative. At baseline, and after six and twelve months, we conducted semi-structured interviews with patients and caregivers. Participants completed questionnaires on quality of life, disease burden, caregiver burden, grief, and positive aspects of caregiving. We analyzed quantitative data using descriptive statistics, while we used thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results: Ten patients and eight family caregivers participated, of whom five patients died during the study period. While the quantitative data reflected a moderate disease burden, the qualitative findings indicated a higher disease burden. Longitudinal results showed small differences and changes in time. Patients reported a diverse range of symptoms, such as fatigue, immobility, cognitive changes, and hallucinations, which had a tremendous impact on their lives. Nevertheless, they rated their overall quality of life as moderate to positive. Family caregivers gradually learned to cope with difficult situations such delirium, fluctuations in functioning and hallucinations. They had great expertise in caring for the person with PD but did not automatically share this with health care professionals. Patients sensed a lack of time to discuss their complex needs with clinicians. Furthermore, palliative care was rarely discussed, and none of these patients had been referred to specialist palliative care services. Conclusion: Patients with PD experienced many difficulties in daily living. Patients seems to adapt to living with PD as they rated their quality of life as moderate to positive. Family caregivers became experts in the care for their loved one, but often learned on their own. An early implementation of the palliative care approach can be beneficial in addressing the needs of patients with PD and their family caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herma Lennaerts-Kats
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Anesthesiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Pain and Palliative Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Ebenau
- Department of Anesthesiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Pain and Palliative Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marten Munneke
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bastiaan R Bloem
- Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Kris C P Vissers
- Department of Anesthesiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Pain and Palliative Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marjan J Meinders
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Scientific Center for Quality of Healthcare, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke M Groot
- Department of Anesthesiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Pain and Palliative Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Sharpe G, Macerollo A, Fabbri M, Tripoliti E. Non-pharmacological Treatment Challenges in Early Parkinson's Disease for Axial and Cognitive Symptoms: A Mini Review. Front Neurol 2020; 11:576569. [PMID: 33101185 PMCID: PMC7546346 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.576569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is now known to be a multisystemic heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease, including a wide spectrum of both motor and non-motor symptoms. PD patients' management must encompass a multidisciplinary approach to effectively address its complex nature. There are still challenges in terms of treating axial (gait, balance, posture, speech, and swallowing) and cognitive symptoms that typically arise with disease progression becoming poorly responsive to dopaminergic or surgical treatments. Objective: The objectives of the study are to further establish the presentation of axial and cognitive symptoms in early PD [Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale ≤ 2] and to discuss the evidence for non-pharmacological approaches in early PD. Results: Mild and subtle changes in the investigated domains can be present even in early PD. Over the last 15 years, a few randomized clinical trials have been focused on these areas. Due to the low number of studies and the heterogeneity of the results, no definitive recommendations are possible. However, positive results have been obtained, with effective treatments being high-intensity treadmill and cueing for gait disturbances, high-intensity voice treatment, video-assisted swallowing therapy for dysphagia, and warm-up exercises and Wii FitTM training for cognition. Conclusions: Considering the association of motor, speech, and cognitive function, future trials should focus on multidisciplinary approaches to combined non-pharmacological management. We highlight the need for a more unified approach in managing these "orphan" symptoms, from the very beginning of the disease. The concept "the sooner the better" should be applied to multidisciplinary non-pharmacological management in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Sharpe
- School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Antonella Macerollo
- Department of Neurology, The Walton Center for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Margherita Fabbri
- Clinical Investigation Center CIC 1436, Parkinson Toulouse Expert Center, NS-Park/FCRIN Network, NeuroToul COEN Center, Toulouse University Hospital, INSERM, University of Toulouse 3, Toulouse, France
| | - Elina Tripoliti
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Fabbri M, Kauppila LA, Ferreira JJ, Rascol O. Challenges and Perspectives in the Management of Late-Stage Parkinson's Disease. JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE 2020; 10:S75-S83. [PMID: 32568114 PMCID: PMC7592689 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-202096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, with a continuously increasing prevalence. With improved clinical and therapeutic management of PD, more patients reach later stages of the disease, meaning they may face new clinical problems that were not commonly approached. This gave way to the description of a new PD stage, late-stage PD (LSPD), which is clinically discernible from the advanced-stage one. Therefore, LSPD patients have new and different needs, regarding pharmacological and non pharmacological interventions, including palliative care and multidisciplinary teams. LSPD patients constitute an‘orphan population’, who traditionally was excluded from previous studies, due to its high disability. With this manuscript, we intend to review specific management challenges of LSPD patients, covering this new concept and its clinical features, how to assess these patients, therapeutic recommendations, as well as discussing ongoing research and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Fabbri
- Department of Neurosciences, Clinical Investigation Center CIC 1436, Parkinson Toulouse Expert Centre, NS-Park/FCRIN Network and Neuro Toul COEN Centre; Toulouse University Hospital; INSERM; University of Toulouse 3; Toulouse, France.,Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Linda Azevedo Kauppila
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Neurology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joaquim J Ferreira
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, Lisbon, Portugal.,CNS - Campus Neurológico Sénior, Torres Vedras, Portugal.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Olivier Rascol
- Department of Neurosciences, Clinical Investigation Center CIC 1436, Parkinson Toulouse Expert Centre, NS-Park/FCRIN Network and Neuro Toul COEN Centre; Toulouse University Hospital; INSERM; University of Toulouse 3; Toulouse, France
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Lennaerts-Kats H, Ebenau A, Steppe M, van der Steen JT, Meinders MJ, Vissers K, Munneke M, Groot M, Bloem BR. "How Long Can I Carry On?" The Need for Palliative Care in Parkinson's Disease: A Qualitative Study from the Perspective of Bereaved Family Caregivers. JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE 2020; 10:1631-1642. [PMID: 32651330 PMCID: PMC8764597 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-191884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: Family caregivers provide the majority of care for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in the palliative care phase. For many this is a demanding experience, affecting their quality of life. Objective: We set out to map the experiences of bereaved family caregivers during the period of informal care in the palliative care phase as well as after the death of their loved one with PD. Methods: Ten bereaved family caregivers participated in this qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and interpretative phenomenological analysis was used executed. Results: We identified four main themes. 1) Feeling like a professional caregiver: while caring for a person with PD, the family caregivers took over many roles and tasks of the person with PD. 2) Healthcare professionals do not always know what PD really means: most interviewees had negative experiences with knowledge and understanding of PD of, especially, (practice) nurses. 3) Being on your own: many respondents had felt highly responsible for their loved one’s care and lacked time and space for themselves. Grief and feelings of guilt were present during the caregiving period and after death. 4) Being behind the times: to provide palliative care in line with patients’ preferences and to feel prepared for the palliative care phase of PD, proactive palliative care planning was considered important. However, the interviewees told that this was most often not provided. Conclusion: These findings indicate that caring for a person with PD in the palliative care phase is a demanding experience for family caregivers. They experience psychological problems for many years before and after the death of the person with PD. Increasing healthcare professionals’ awareness of family and bereaved caregivers’ needs may mitigate these long-term detrimental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herma Lennaerts-Kats
- Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, Centre of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.,Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Ebenau
- Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Maxime Steppe
- Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, Centre of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), Nijmegen, Department of Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marjan J Meinders
- Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Scientific Center for Quality of Healthcare, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Kris Vissers
- Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marten Munneke
- Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, Centre of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Groot
- Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc), Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Care, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bastiaan R Bloem
- Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, Centre of Expertise for Parkinson & Movement Disorders, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Integrated and patient-centred management of Parkinson's disease: a network model for reshaping chronic neurological care. Lancet Neurol 2020; 19:623-634. [DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(20)30064-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Bouça-Machado R, Pona-Ferreira F, Gonçalves N, Leitão M, Cacho R, Castro-Caldas A, Ferreira JJ, and CNS Multidisciplinary Team. Outcome Measures for Evaluating the Effect of a Multidisciplinary Intervention on Axial Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurol 2020; 11:328. [PMID: 32477239 PMCID: PMC7235279 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The satisfactory symptomatic control of the axial symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains challenging. As these symptoms are an important cause of disability, new therapeutic strategies should be developed and evaluated. To do this, it is necessary to select the outcomes to be measured and reported in a clinical trial. In this study, we sought to identify the most responsive outcome measures for assessing the efficacy of a multidisciplinary intervention on the axial symptoms of PD. Methods: An exploratory prospective clinical study was conducted. PD patients engaged in a pre-defined multidisciplinary intervention program for parkinsonian patients were assessed at admission and discharge by a multidisciplinary team. The responsiveness to intervention was evaluated and the smallest sample size needed to enable statistically significant results for an expected 30% change from baseline for each outcome was calculated. Results: Twenty-two patients were included in the study. The effect size detected varied between 0.04 and 0.83. The Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) total score and each subsection, the N-FOG questionnaire, the 10-m walk test, and Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment-2 Edition (FDA-2) showed a medium to large effect size. Sample size calculations for 90% power and assuming 30% change from baseline ranged from eight to 180 participants. The outcome measures that require a small number of participants to enable statistically significant results were the FDA-2 rating scale (n = 4 participants), the MDS-UPDRS total score (n = 9), the 10-m walk test (n = 9), and the MDS-UPDRS motor examination (n = 10). Conclusions: The MDS-UPDRS part III and total score and the 10-m walk test were the outcomes with the best responsiveness to a multidisciplinary intervention and required a small number of participants to enable statistically significant results. Further studies are needed to clarify the suitability of the Timed Up and Go test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Bouça-Machado
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal
- CNS—Campus Neurológico Sénior, Torres Vedras, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Ricardo Cacho
- CNS—Campus Neurológico Sénior, Torres Vedras, Portugal
| | | | - Joaquim J. Ferreira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisbon, Portugal
- CNS—Campus Neurológico Sénior, Torres Vedras, Portugal
- Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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RADPAC-PD: A tool to support healthcare professionals in timely identifying palliative care needs of people with Parkinson's disease. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230611. [PMID: 32315302 PMCID: PMC7173770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive degenerative disease without curative treatment perspectives. Even when palliative care for people with PD seems to be beneficial, the need for palliative care is often not timely recognized. Aim Our aim was to develop a tool that can help healthcare professionals in timely identifying palliative care needs in people with PD. Design We used a mixed-methods design, including individual and focus group interviews and a three-round modified Delphi study with healthcare professionals from a multidisciplinary field. Results Data from the interviews suggested two distinct moments in the progressive PD trajectory: 1) an ultimate moment to initiate Advance Care Planning (ACP); and 2) the actual start of the palliative phase. During the Delphi process, six indicators for ACP were identified, such as presence of frequent falls and first unplanned hospital admission. The start of the palliative phase involved four indicators: 1) personal goals have started to focus on maximization of comfort; 2) care needs have changed; 3) PD drug treatment has become less effective or an increasingly complex regime of drug treatments is needed; and 4) specific PD-symptoms or complications have appeared, such as significant weight loss, recurrent infections, or progressive dysphagia. Indicators for both moments are included in the RADboud indicators for PAlliative Care Needs in Parkinson’s Disease (RADPAC-PD) tool. Conclusion The RADPAC-PD may support healthcare professionals in timely initiating palliative care for persons with PD. Identification of one or more indicators can mark the need for ACP or the palliative phase. We expect that applying the RADPAC-PD, for example on an annual basis throughout the PD trajectory, can facilitate identification of the palliative phase in PD patients in daily practice. However, further prospective research is needed on the implementation of the RADPAC-PD.
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Mehanna R, Jankovic J. Young-onset Parkinson's disease: Its unique features and their impact on quality of life. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2019; 65:39-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2019.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Lennaerts H, Steppe M, Munneke M, Meinders MJ, van der Steen JT, Van den Brand M, van Amelsvoort D, Vissers K, Bloem BR, Groot M. Palliative care for persons with Parkinson's disease: a qualitative study on the experiences of health care professionals. BMC Palliat Care 2019; 18:53. [PMID: 31288821 PMCID: PMC6617627 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-019-0441-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and neurodegenerative disease associated with a wide variety of symptoms. The risk of complications increases with progression of the disease. These complications have a tremendous impact on the quality of life of people with PD. The aim of this study was to examine health care professionals’ experiences of potential barriers and facilitators in providing palliative care for people with PD in the Netherlands. Methods This was a qualitative descriptive study. The data were collected from 10 individual in-depth interviews and three focus groups (n = 29) with health care professionals. Health care professionals were selected based on a positive answer to the question: “In the past 2 years, did you treat or support a person with PD who subsequently died?” The data were analyzed by thematic text analysis. Results Health care professionals supported the development of a palliative care system for PD but needed to better understand the essence of palliative care. In daily practice, they struggled to identify persons’ needs due to interfering PD-specific symptoms such as cognitive decline and communication deficits. Timely addressing the personal preferences for providing palliative care was identified as an important facilitator. Health care professionals acknowledged being aware of their lack of knowledge and of their little competence in managing complex PD. Findings indicate a perceived lack of care continuity, fragmentation of services, time pressure and information discontinuity. Conclusions Health care professionals experienced several facilitators and barriers to the provision of palliative care to people with PD. There is a need to improve the knowledge on complex PD and the continuity of information, as well as optimize coordination and deliver care based on a persons’ preferences. Additional training can help to become more knowledgeable and confident. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12904-019-0441-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herma Lennaerts
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Reinier Postlaan 4, 6500, Nijmegen, AB, The Netherlands.
| | - Maxime Steppe
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Reinier Postlaan 4, 6500, Nijmegen, AB, The Netherlands
| | - Marten Munneke
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Reinier Postlaan 4, 6500, Nijmegen, AB, The Netherlands
| | - Marjan J Meinders
- Scientific Center for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jenny T van der Steen
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Van den Brand
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kris Vissers
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bastiaan R Bloem
- Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud university medical center, Reinier Postlaan 4, 6500, Nijmegen, AB, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Groot
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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