Patient Education for People with Parkinson’s Disease and their Carers

This manual provides the information and materials needed to conduct an eight-session patient education programme for people with Parkinson s disease and their carers, complementing medical treatment. This programme was developed within an interdisciplinary European consortium, comprising research and clinical centres in Germany, Spain, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, Estonia and the United Kingdom. In addition to dealing with the motor symptoms of Parkinson s disease, many people also struggle with the psychological and social effects. In fact, people at every stage of the disease can be faced with problems such as depression, anxiety, stressful social interactions, and difficulties communicating, all of which can disrupt their lives. This programme draws upon basic psychological principles and presents specific strategies that people can use to manage these difficulties. The ultimate goal of the programme is to empower people with Parkinson s disease and their carers to improve their own quality of life. Although the programme is standardised, flexibility is built into the programme to facilitate its use in different cultures, and with different types of patient and carer groups. Patient Education for People with Parkinson s Disease and Their Carers: A Manaual is essential reading for all health care professionals and trained volunteers working with people with Parkinson s disease and their carers.

This manual provides the information and materials needed toconduct an eight-session patient education programme for peoplewith Parkinson's disease and their carers, complementingmedical treatment. This programme was developed within aninterdisciplinary European consortium, comprising research andclinical centres in Germany, Spain, Finland, Italy, TheNetherlands, Estonia and the United Kingdom.In addition to dealing with the motor symptoms ofParkinson's disease, many people also struggle with thepsychological and social effects. In fact, people at every stage ofthe disease can be faced with problems such as depression, anxietystressful social interactions, and difficulties communicating, allof which can disrupt their lives. This programme draws upon basicpsychological principles and presents specific strategies thatpeople can use to manage these difficulties. The ultimate goal ofthe programme is to empower people with Parkinson's diseaseand their carers to improve their own quality of life. Although theprogramme is standardised, flexibility is built into the programmeto facilitate its use in different cultures, and with differenttypes of patient and carer groups.Patient Education for People with Parkinson's Diseaseand Their Carers: A Manaual is essential reading for all healthcare professionals and trained volunteers working with people withParkinson's disease and their carers.

About the Editors.Preface.Acknowledgements.Contributors.Part I: Introduction to the EduPark Programme.Chapter 1: The nature of Parkinson's disease and the needfor a multifaceted patient education programme (The EduParkConsortium).Chapter 2: Structure of the programme and guidelines for leaders(The EduPark Consortium).Part II: Programme Sessions.Session 1: Information (Pille Taba, Ülle Krikmann andEve Kanarik).Session 2: Self-monitoring (Gwenda Simons, Marcia SmithPasqualini and Simon Thompson).Session 3: Pleasant activities (Michael Macht, HeinerEllgring, Christian Gerlich and Martina Schradi).Session 4: Stress management for people with PD and for carers(Anu Lankinen, Vappu Viemerö and Anne Lehtonen).Session 5: Management of anxiety and depression (for people withPD) and the carer's challenge (for carers) (ÀngelsBayés Rusiñol, Mari Cruz Crespo Maraver and Anna PratsParís).Session 6: Social competence for people with PD and for carers(Noëlle G. A. Spliethoff-Kamminga and Janny deVreugd).Session 7: Social support (Pio Enrico Ricci Bitti and LorenaCandini).Session 8: Review of the programme and a look forward(Christian Gerlich, Michael Macht, Martina Schradi and HeinerEllgring).Part III: The EduPark Programme: Final Thoughts.The EduPark programme: Final thoughts (Marcia SmithPasqualini and Gwenda Simons).Appendix: Assessment Scales.References.