Self-reported needs of patients with Parkinson's disease during COVID-19 emergency in Italy.
Neurol Sci
; 41(6): 1373-1375, 2020 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32363506
ABSTRACT
Because of COVID-19 outbreak, regular clinical services for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients have been suddenly suspended, causing worries, confusion and unexpected needs in such frail population. Here, we reviewed the messages spontaneously sent by patients to an Italian PD clinic during the first two weeks of COVID-19 lockdown (9-21 March 2020), in order to highlight their main needs and then outline appropriate strategies of care for this critical period. One hundred sixty-two messages were analysed. Forty-six percent queried about clinical services; 28% communicated an acute clinical worsening for which a therapeutic change was done in 52% of cases; 17% (those patients with younger age and milder disease) asked about the relationship between PD and COVID-19; 8% informed about an intercurrent event. Our analysis suggests that PD patients' needs during COVID-19 emergency include appropriate and complete information, a timely update on changes in clinical services, and the continuity of care, even in a remote mode. By addressing these issues, acute clinical worsening, complications and subsequent therapeutic changes could be prevented. In this perspective, telecommunication systems and virtual medicine should be implemented.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Parkinson Disease
/
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Emergency Service, Hospital
/
Self Report
/
Betacoronavirus
/
Health Services Needs and Demand
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Neurol Sci
Journal subject:
NEUROLOGIA
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italy