title: Knowledge of Parkinson's Disease in a Multiethnic Urban Asian Setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Public knowledge regarding Parkinson's disease (PD) is important to facilitate good health-seeking behavior, but the literature on this topic is scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to explore the level of public knowledge regarding PD in a large multiethnic urban Asian cohort, and (as a secondary aim) in a smaller cohort of PD patients and caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Knowledge of PD Questionnaire (KPDQ) was developed and administered to members of the Malaysian general public, and to PD patients and caregivers. The KPDQ tests recognition of PD symptoms and general knowledge regarding PD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1,258 members of the general public completed the KPDQ. Tremor was the most widely recognized symptom (recognized by 79.0% of respondents); however, 83.7% incorrectly believed that all PD patients experience tremor. Memory problem was the most widely recognized NMS. Overall, motor symptoms were better recognized than NMS. Common misperceptions were that there is a cure for PD (49.8%) and that PD is usually familial (41.4%). Female gender, Chinese ethnicity, tertiary education, healthcare-related work, and knowing someone with PD were independently associated with higher KPDQ scores. PD patients (n = 116) and caregivers (n = 135) demonstrated superior knowledge compared with the general public group, but one-third of them believed that PD is currently curable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the only study on public knowledge regarding PD in Asia. Important gaps in knowledge were evident, which could present a barrier to early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of PD. This highlights the need for targeted education campaigns and further research in this area.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ai Huey
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chong Tin
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Centre, Toronto Western Hospital and the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kwong Weng
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Niki Wai
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Wye Ho
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Quan Hziung
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Pei Wen
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chee Chean
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Yee Weai
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sik Thien
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Jie Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schee
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kean Hoong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Suet Ker
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Soo
authors.affiliation: Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vanderschaaf
authors.affiliation: Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lai Heong Lew
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ummi Affah
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Mahamad
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Khean Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hoi Sen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology and the Mah Pooi Soo & Tan Chin Nam Centre for Parkinson's & Related Disorders, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shen-Yang
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000208:ethnology; D014505:Urban Population
keywords: Asia; Parkinson’s disease; awareness; cure; education; epidemiology; knowledge; stem cells