title: Survey on general knowledge on Parkinson's disease in patients with Parkinson's disease and current clinical practice for Parkinson's disease among general neurologists from Southwest China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate general knowledge on Parkinson's disease (PD) among patients with PD and current status and choices regarding diagnosis and treatment of PD among general neurologists from grassroots hospitals of Sichuan Province, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional questionnaire-based surveys were conducted among 344 PD patients and 368 general neurologists from grassroots hospitals in Sichuan Province, China from October 2010 to October 2012. One questionnaire was developed and distributed for the patient survey on general knowledge on PD, and another one for the neurologist survey on diagnosis and treatment of PD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PD patients lacked information about some aspects of PD, such as etiology, side effects of antiparkinsonian drugs, use of levodopa, and surgical treatment. Patients obtained information about PD mainly from their treating clinician. Neurologists from grassroots hospitals did not have sufficient awareness and knowledge of certain aspects of PD, including non-motor symptoms, differential diagnosis, therapeutic strategy, or appropriate indications of surgical treatment, although they were familiar with the motor symptoms of the disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both PD patients and neurologists from grassroots hospitals had minimal knowledge about the disease. Improved knowledge about PD may contribute to maintaining patients' quality of life.
authors: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Jianpeng
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Dezhi
authors: D
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Song
authors: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Ke
authors: K
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Bei
authors: B
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: Hxyangrong2004@126.com.
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, SiChuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: hfshang2002@126.com.
authors: Huifang
authors: H
authors: Shang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002681:China; D003625:Data Collection; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009462:Neurology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010361:Patients; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D007980:Levodopa
keywords: Awareness; Parkinson’s disease (PD); Questionnaire survey