Parkinson’s Education Course an evaluation Jo Prince SLT BHPCT Debbie Blake PDSN BPCT

Parkinson’s Education Parkinson’s Education Course Course

an evaluationan evaluation

Jo Prince SLT BHPCTJo Prince SLT BHPCT

Debbie Blake PDSN BPCTDebbie Blake PDSN BPCT

What is a Parkinson’s Education What is a Parkinson’s Education Course?Course?

Most Parkinson’s patients come into Most Parkinson’s patients come into contact with a great variety of health and contact with a great variety of health and social professionals during the course of social professionals during the course of their disease. their disease.

Much of the information that is given Much of the information that is given overlaps although it might be given for overlaps although it might be given for different reasons. different reasons.

What is a Parkinson’s Education What is a Parkinson’s Education Course?Course?

It was felt amongst some health It was felt amongst some health professionals that referrals to them were professionals that referrals to them were coming too late, when the underlying coming too late, when the underlying cause of a problem was too firmly cause of a problem was too firmly entrenched to effect a change entrenched to effect a change successfully.successfully.Prevention through early education was Prevention through early education was considered preferable. considered preferable.

Why provide and Education Course Why provide and Education Course to people with Parkinson’s Diseaseto people with Parkinson’s Disease

For staffFor staff To allow professionals to minimise To allow professionals to minimise

repetition of the same information to new repetition of the same information to new patients.patients.

To reduce overlap between professionsTo reduce overlap between professions

Why provide and Education Course Why provide and Education Course to people with Parkinson’s Diseaseto people with Parkinson’s Disease

For patientsFor patients To empower able patients to minimise the To empower able patients to minimise the

disabling effects of Parkinson’s Disease by disabling effects of Parkinson’s Disease by explaining common themes for staying explaining common themes for staying wellwell

To understand who can help and how to To understand who can help and how to access them. access them.

Who might benefit from such a Who might benefit from such a course?course?

Potential patientsPotential patients Patients known to the PD specialist nurse Patients known to the PD specialist nurse

was around 400 for the Bedford and was around 400 for the Bedford and Heartlands area.Heartlands area.

Not all of these patients would be suitable Not all of these patients would be suitable due to complex problems, inability to due to complex problems, inability to attend, or memory problems.attend, or memory problems.

Who might benefit from such a Who might benefit from such a course?course?

Potential PatientsPotential Patients TheThe pilot course was offered to 15 patients pilot course was offered to 15 patients

chosen for their motivation and ability to chosen for their motivation and ability to feedback about course concept and feedback about course concept and content. The first 10 who replied were content. The first 10 who replied were accepted.accepted.

What were the common themes of What were the common themes of the coursethe course

To understand the relevance of good To understand the relevance of good posture.posture.

To keep activeTo keep active To eat a healthy diet and take plenty of To eat a healthy diet and take plenty of

fluidsfluids To feel good and be in controlTo feel good and be in control To know who to contact if requiredTo know who to contact if required

Who should ideally be involved in Who should ideally be involved in delivery?delivery?

PD specialist nursePD specialist nurse Doctor with a special interest in PDDoctor with a special interest in PD DietitianDietitian PhysiotherapistPhysiotherapist Occupational TherapistOccupational Therapist Speech and Language TherapistSpeech and Language Therapist Social WorkerSocial Worker Local PD branchLocal PD branch

Who should cover what areas?Who should cover what areas?

PD Specialist Nurse and doctorPD Specialist Nurse and doctor What is Parkinson’s Disease?What is Parkinson’s Disease? Medication and side effectsMedication and side effects


DietitianDietitian Managing weight lossManaging weight loss High calorie diets and supplementsHigh calorie diets and supplements


PhysiotherapistPhysiotherapist Reducing falls and getting upReducing falls and getting up Achieving and maintaining good postureAchieving and maintaining good posture Walking safelyWalking safely


Occupational TherapistOccupational Therapist Aids and adaptations around the homeAids and adaptations around the home Relaxing tense musclesRelaxing tense muscles


Speech and Language TherapistSpeech and Language Therapist Breathing for voice, volume and Breathing for voice, volume and

resonance.resonance. Facial expressionFacial expression Improving articulation & rate of speechImproving articulation & rate of speech Controlling salivaControlling saliva Managing Swallowing problemsManaging Swallowing problems


Social WorkerSocial Worker Benefits and servicesBenefits and services Social functions and how to get to themSocial functions and how to get to them

The local PD Society groupThe local PD Society group Local supportLocal support

How long should the course be?How long should the course be?

Sessions could not exceed 2 hours. Sessions could not exceed 2 hours. In order to cover the content we felt In order to cover the content we felt

necessary to have 7 education sessions.necessary to have 7 education sessions. The eighth session included partners and The eighth session included partners and

was a recap and social session. was a recap and social session. This session provided an opportunity to This session provided an opportunity to

give verbal feedback on the course. give verbal feedback on the course.

Supporting InformationSupporting Information

Since the course was designed as a one Since the course was designed as a one off experience, it was felt that a personal off experience, it was felt that a personal portfolio of information would be required portfolio of information would be required to back up each presentation.to back up each presentation.This information may be required years This information may be required years later, so a quality ring binder was provided later, so a quality ring binder was provided with sections and colour printed with sections and colour printed documentsdocuments

Supporting InformationSupporting Information

CostCost

Each professional printed their own Each professional printed their own section.section.

Costs for the ring binders and dividers was Costs for the ring binders and dividers was £122.60£122.60

The cost for the pilot project was kindly The cost for the pilot project was kindly met by the Bedford PCTmet by the Bedford PCT

Style of presentationStyle of presentation

EducationEducation Attendees would be seen as students or Attendees would be seen as students or

delegates rather than patients.delegates rather than patients. The Speech & Language Therapy group The Speech & Language Therapy group

room at Beeden House was used for room at Beeden House was used for presentationspresentations

The gymnasium was used for practicals The gymnasium was used for practicals and for the “plus carer” sessionand for the “plus carer” session

Measuring progress of participantsMeasuring progress of participants

A questionnaire was to be given to all A questionnaire was to be given to all participants at the beginning of the course, participants at the beginning of the course, and repeated at the end.and repeated at the end.It was hoped that this would show an It was hoped that this would show an increase of knowledge over the 8 weeksincrease of knowledge over the 8 weeksUnfortunately due to error it was not given Unfortunately due to error it was not given until week 2 (after questions 1-3 had been until week 2 (after questions 1-3 had been covered)covered)

Measuring progress of participantsMeasuring progress of participants

The questionnaireThe questionnaireAim: 19 questionsAim: 19 questions3 were submitted by each of the following:3 were submitted by each of the following:PDSN, PT, OT & SLT.PDSN, PT, OT & SLT.2 were submitted by dietetics & Social Services2 were submitted by dietetics & Social Services

Unfortunately the OTs questions arrived too late to Unfortunately the OTs questions arrived too late to be included.be included.

Measuring progress of participants.Measuring progress of participants.ResultsResults

Note: Only 6 participants our of the 8 who Note: Only 6 participants our of the 8 who actually attended completed all questions actually attended completed all questions on both the pre and post questionnaireon both the pre and post questionnaire

Pre and Post Course EvaluationPre and Post Course Evaluation

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Whichpart of the

brain isaffected?

Can youdrive if

you havePD?

Name oneclinical

sign

What isthe mostcommonposturalchange

pre

post


0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Give threedifficulties

withwalking

What 'sthe bestwalking

aid?

Where domost falls

occur

Threethings todo if you

fall

pre

post


0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Three ways tominimise risk

of falling

What's thelink between

protein &Levadopa?

Give 5 foodscontainingcalcium

Which fruitjuice reducesthick, sticky

saliva?

pre

post


00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

How can youimprove your

speech?

Why sit upand forwardswhen eating

and drinking?

Is AttendanceAllowance

means tested?

Where is theDisability

InfromationSerivice?

pre

post

General Comments on the CourseGeneral Comments on the Course

On the positive sideOn the positive side Well thought out and planned.Well thought out and planned. Impressed by accompanying notes.Impressed by accompanying notes. Helped in coming to terms with PD.Helped in coming to terms with PD. Sets you up for the future and gets you Sets you up for the future and gets you

ready.ready. Excellent lecturersExcellent lecturers Informative and friendlyInformative and friendly

General Comments on the CourseGeneral Comments on the Course

Things to consider changing next timeThings to consider changing next time Provide name badges for all participants.Provide name badges for all participants. Try to accommodate hearing impairedTry to accommodate hearing impaired Less on supplements more on proteinLess on supplements more on protein More on practical mobility.More on practical mobility. Would like a ‘road map’ of possible future drugs Would like a ‘road map’ of possible future drugs

and timescalesand timescales Partners at first meeting to inform them more Partners at first meeting to inform them more

about courseabout course

Unexpected benefitsUnexpected benefits

The PD Specialist Nurse has noted a drop The PD Specialist Nurse has noted a drop in phone calls from patients who have in phone calls from patients who have attended the course.attended the course.

The group have continued to meet socially The group have continued to meet socially and have supported members through and have supported members through difficult timesdifficult times

The future?The future?

All the lecturers enjoyed the course and felt it was All the lecturers enjoyed the course and felt it was worthwhile. As individuals they are happy to worthwhile. As individuals they are happy to provide further input, but some services can not provide further input, but some services can not do so without funding.do so without funding.

A review of current numbers indicates that if three A review of current numbers indicates that if three courses were held for the next two years, in the courses were held for the next two years, in the future only two courses per year would be future only two courses per year would be required.required.

The drop in contacts to the PDSN may be mirrored The drop in contacts to the PDSN may be mirrored by less reliance on the GP, this could be by less reliance on the GP, this could be monitored by GPs over a longer term.monitored by GPs over a longer term.

Documents

Parkinson’s Education Course an evaluation Jo Prince SLT BHPCT Debbie Blake PDSN BPCT