Abstract
Objective: To improve knowledge regarding the specificities and needs of patients with Parkinson‘s disease (PD) through a one-day training delivered by a multidisciplinary team and involving education, communication, reflective practice and practical workshop.
Background: Previous studies led by our group have shown that (1) PD patients’ needs are not always identified nor satisfied within palliative care units, (2) providing additional training on PD to palliative care providers and (3) developing standardized core documentation are needed.
Design/Methods: A one-day training and teaching course was developed by a core team to address knowledge and practice gaps, and to initiate the development of a multidisciplinary network on palliative care and PD within the Brittany area. Major areas covered by the teaching course included PD pathophysiology, PD pharmacological and non-pharmacological management, specificities of PD regarding the usual palliative care armamentarium (eg drug interactions, adverse events). The training part involved a practical workshop on the use of continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion. As part of a reflective practice, clinical case-centered discussions were also organized. Representatives of the French national Parkinson's association (Association France Parkinson) contributed to the teaching course by presenting available patients and caregivers resources. Finally, core documentation summarizing clinical practice guidelines and recommendations as well as a list of relevant partners were established and given to participants.
Results: This initiative is a first step to optimize coordination and facilitate communication between the various healthcare professionals involved in PD management, including, but not limited to, end-of-life care. We also aim at increasing awareness on the topic of palliative care and PD, including among neurologists.
Conclusions: A multidisciplinary network that assembles healthcare professionals from different disciplines, but also patient representatives, is currently under construction in Brittany, to improve both PD patients’ access to palliative care and quality of care.
Disclosure: Dr. Auffret has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Britannia. Dr. Auffret has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Medizin Akademie . Dr. Auffret has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Britannia. The institution of Dr. Auffret has received research support from Association France Parkinson. The institution of Dr. Auffret has received research support from Homeperf. The institution of Dr. Auffret has received research support from LVL. The institution of Dr. Auffret has received research support from University of Rennes 1. The institution of Dr. Auffret has received research support from Aguettant. The institution of Dr. Auffret has received research support from Linde. Jeanne Keromnes has nothing to disclose. Guillaume Robert has nothing to disclose. Vincent Morel has nothing to disclose. Marc Verin has nothing to disclose.
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