Purposeful collaboration: Enriching lives for people with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder caused by the loss of dopamine producing cells in the substantia nigra, which is located in the basal ganglia. As dopamine assists with transmitting and modulating signals in the brain, ongoing dopamine depletion causes motor, autonomic and cognitive impairments (Magrinelli et al., 2016). PD is characterised by motor symptoms that are associated with movement (e.g. bradykinesia, rigidity, postural instability, tremor) (Magrinelli et al., 2016), and nonmotor symptoms (e.g. mood/cognitive problems, depression, pain, sleep problems) (Schapira et al., 2017). Motor symptoms are considered the clinical manifestation of dopa-mine insufficiency and used for PD diagnosis (Chenoweth, Sheriff, McAnally, & Tait, 2013;Queen, 2017;Schapira, Chaudhuri, & Jenner, 2017). However, non-motor symptoms can become more debilitating than motor symptoms as PD progresses (Chenoweth et al., 2013;Schapira et al., 2017).A recent epidemiological study indicated up to 212,000 people (1 in 117 people aged over 50 years) are living with PD in Australia, with more than one million caregivers, family and friends directly impacted by the condition (Ayton et al., 2019).

Using an economic evaluation approach to support specialist nursing services for people with Parkinson's in a regional community

“…Parkinson's nurse model of care developed as a result of the nurseled clinical practice improvement project (Bramble et al, 2019;Carroll et al, 2020). We have presented statistical findings that demonstrate Parkinson's nurse (Cockram, 2017;Radder et al, 2020).…”

“…In other words, more reliable estimation can be obtained from the 2017 subsample. On the whole, the benefit resulting from the Parkinson's nurse intervention was statistically supported, evidenced by the reduction in hospital LOS, a direct result from the nurse‐led clinical practice improvement project conducted in a hospital (Carroll et al, 2020 ).…”

“…In this study, we explored the cost‐effectiveness of the specialist Parkinson's nurse model of care developed as a result of the nurse‐led clinical practice improvement project (Bramble et al, 2019 ; Carroll et al, 2020 ). We have presented statistical findings that demonstrate a reduction in hospital LOS for patients with Parkinson's following the establishment of the specialist Parkinson's nurse position in the MNCLHD.…”

“…cost-effectiveness, nurses, Parkinson's, regional, specialist satisfaction with medication management as a result of this clinical practice improvement project (Bramble et al, 2019;Carroll et al, 2020).…”

“…Data from a nurse‐led clinical practice improvement project conducted in a hospital setting in the MNCLHD between 2015 and 2018 provided the catalyst for this final component (Carroll et al, 2020 ). The data collected had revealed positive impacts, including a reduction in length of stay (LOS), improved patient safety and increased patient satisfaction with medication management as a result of this clinical practice improvement project (Bramble et al, 2019 ; Carroll et al, 2020 ).…”