Patterns and predictors of referrals to allied health services for individuals with Parkinson's disease: A Parkinson's foundation (PF) QII study

Author(s):  
Angela C. Roberts ◽  
Miriam R. Rafferty ◽  
Samuel S. Wu ◽  
Guanhuong Miao ◽  
Fernando Cubillos ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Veronica Coady ◽  
Narelle Warren ◽  
Nancy Bilkhu ◽  
Darshini Ayton

People living with Parkinson’s disease (PWPD) in rural areas have limited access to local condition-specific care. This paper examines the healthcare preferences of PWPD living in rural areas and how a community-driven initiative to employ a movement disorder nurse (MDN) functioned to address barriers to health services access. A qualitative design facilitated an understanding of how interactions with the health system shaped PWPD and their carer’s experiences of living in a regional community. A total of 42 semi-structured interviews were conducted 6–9 months apart; 19 interviews with PWPD and 23 dyadic interviews. The findings support the contention that specialist care can be effectively delivered through allied health professionals in some settings. In particular, having access to a specialist MDN can cushion the effects of living with Parkinson’s disease in regional and rural areas where continuity of care and access to timely support is often difficult for people to find. The quality of social support provided by the MDN may increase people’s ability to cope in the face of an unpredictable disease course. This is consistent with prior research, which identified that a specialist nurse or allied health services for people living with chronic conditions is enhances quality of life.


Author(s):  
Simony Fabíola Lopes Nunes ◽  
Angela Maria Alvarez ◽  
Maria Fernanda Baeta Neves Alonso da Costa ◽  
Rafaela Vivian Valcarenghi

ABSTRACT Objective: to investigate the facilitator and inhibitory factors in the transition of elderly caregivers with Parkinson's disease. Method: a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study, based on the family transition nursing theory developed with 20 elderly caregivers of elderly people with Parkinson 's disease, enrolled in the Associação Parkinson de Santa Catarina, from March to August 2015. To analyze and interpret the data, we used the thematic analysis of content proposed by Bardin, with the help of the ATLAS.ti software for data organization. Results: some factors were identified and considered as facilitators for the process of transition from the familiar to the exercise of the role of caregiver, such as: previous experiences as caregiver; spirituality and religiosity; family support network and health services. Other factors were identified as inhibiting factors for transition: emotional and physical health conditions; advanced age; personal life activities/commitments; family financial burden; and inadequate family support. It was observed that most family caregivers reported having previous experience in caring, having advanced age, and being able to care for the elderly with the disease. However, he considers his condition of emotional and physical health insufficient, resulting in overload. Lack of access to health services and family and financial support make it difficult to provide care. Conclusion: nurses should seek strategies to direct attention to facilitating factors in the family context in order to help the family to achieve well-being and healthy transition to the role of caregiver.


2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Waldron ◽  
W George Kernohan ◽  
Felicity Hasson ◽  
Susan Foster ◽  
Barbara Cochrane ◽  
...  

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