Unmet needs of people with Parkinson’s disease

Aim: The study aimed to identify individual health and social care needs and unmet needs in patients with Parkinson’s disease as well as factors related to them. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: The sample comprised 183 Parkinson’s disease patients cared for in four outpatient neurology centers in the Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic. Their functional status was assessed with the Hoehn and Yahr Scale, Barthel Index and Schwab and England Scale; their needs for care were evaluated using the Needs and Provision Complexity Scale. The study was carried out from May to December 2019. Results: The highest proportions of unmet needs were identified in rehabilitation, related to both frequency (87%) and intensity (85%), followed by family support (53%), residential respite care (41%), skilled nursing care (36%) and equipment (35%). Unmet needs were associated with greater dependence with regard to activities of daily living, poorer functional status and longer disease duration. Conclusion: Understanding factors that determine the type of unmet needs of Parkinson’s disease patients is crucial for provision of adequate multidisciplinary care. Based on identification of unmet health and social care and support needs, nurses may provide targeted interventions aimed to fulfill the unmet needs and improve the quality of life of patients.