An evaluation of the patient education programme for Parkinson's disease in clinical practice

Aim: The Patient Education Programme for Parkinson's disease (PEPP) was assessed in a recent randomised controlled trial (RCT). In this study, a trend was identified towards significant improvement of patients' quality of life (Qol) as well as a significant reduction of caregivers' psychosocial burden and need for help. This study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the PEPP in clinical practice as compared with the RCT in an academic setting. The second aim is to assess its effectiveness in clinical practice at 6-month follow-up. Methods: Fifty-five patients and 50 caregivers from nine clinical settings participated in the PEPP consisting of eight weekly sessions of 90 min. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess patients' Qol (PDQ-39) and caregivers' psychosocial burden and need for help (BELA-A-k) at baseline, directly after the programme and at 6-month follow-up. To compare the baseline data and short-term effects, data were used from an RCT study which included 64 Parkinson's disease patients and 46 caregivers. Results: Compared with the RCT control group, significant effects, after Bonferoni adjustment, were found for patients' Qol as well as for caregivers' psychosocial burden and need for help. No significant changes were found between baseline scores compared with 6-month follow-up. Scores returned to baseline levels at 6-month follow-up. Conclusions: Effects from the RCT study were replicated and the effect on patients' Qol was now significant. However, at 6-month follow-up, scores returned to baseline levels, indicating the need for some form of a booster session.