title: Patient education in Parkinson's disease: Formative evaluation of a standardized programme in seven European countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a newly developed education programme for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The programme consisted of eight sessions and aimed at improving knowledge and skills related to self-monitoring, health promotion, stress management, depression, anxiety, social competence, and social support, all with special reference to PD. The programme was formatively evaluated in seven European countries (Spain, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Estonia, Germany) with 151 patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD. The evaluation included patients' ratings of the comprehensibility and feasibility of the programme as well as mood ratings before and after each session. Patients also completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of the programme to explore possible changes in disease-related psychosocial problems, quality of life, and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The programme was feasible to run, and patients were able to understand its elements. Patients reported mood elevations following individual sessions and reduced disease-related psychosocial problems after completing the programme. There were no substantial differences in results between cultures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient education appears to have potential as a useful and feasible intervention, complementing medical treatment in PD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present programme will soon be available in seven European languages and can be tested in different health care systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Marcusstrasse 9-11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany. macht@psychologie.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Macht
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gerlich
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ellgring
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schradi
authors.forename: Angels Bayés
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rusiñol
authors.forename: Maricruz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prats
authors.forename: Vappu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viemerö
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lankinen
authors.forename: Pio Enrico Ricci
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bitti
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Candini
authors.forename: Noëlle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spliethoff-Kamminga
authors.forename: Janny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Vreugd
authors.forename: Gwenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Marcia Smith
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pasqualini
authors.forename: Simon B N
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Pille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Taba
authors.forename: Ulle
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krikmann
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kanarik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003479:Curriculum; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005060:Europe; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires