Person-Centered Navigator Program for People with Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study.

There are limited Parkinson's disease (PD)-specific navigator programs, although PD is chronic and requires life-long comprehensive care. As most patient navigation literature focuses on oncology and is based in the West, this study aimed to develop a person-centered navigator program for PD and evaluate its preliminary outcomes and feasibility in the Korean context. The program was developed using the "analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation" model, and "professional navigation framework." Initially, 28 participants were recruited to participate in an 8-week navigator program. The retention rate was 82%. Social function was significantly improved 12 weeks after baseline. Participants reported high satisfaction with the program, suggesting that it was well-accepted. This study systematically developed a navigator program based on PD-specific needs and the Korean context. Future models should focus on personal and participatory attributes. Navigator programs for people with PD represent appropriate and evolving healthcare interventions.

The Effects of Korean Red Ginseng on Biological Aging and Antioxidant Capacity in Postmenopausal Women: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.

Postmenopausal women are vulnerable to aging and oxidative stress due to reduced estrogen. Previous studies have shown that Korean red ginseng (KRG) has beneficial effects on aging and antioxidant capacity. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of KRG on biological aging and antioxidant capacity in postmenopausal women. This study conducted a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The participants were randomly administered KRG or a placebo, and the following metrics were measured: mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) copy number as an indicator of biological aging and, total antioxidant status (TAS) as a marker of antioxidant capacity. Clinical symptoms of fatigue, as measured by the fatigue severity scale, were assessed before and after KRG administration. There were 63 participants, of whom 33 received KRG and 30 received a placebo. The mtDNA copy number (KRG group: 1.58 ± 2.05, placebo group: 0.28 ± 2.36, p = 0.023) and TAS (KRG group: 0.11 ± 0.25 mmol/L, placebo group: -0.04 ± 0.16 mmol/L, p = 0.011) increased and the fatigue severity scale (KRG group: -7 ± 12, placebo group: -1 ± 11, p = 0.033) decreased significantly more in the KRG group than the placebo group. KRG significantly increased the mtDNA copy number, total antioxidant status, and improved symptoms of fatigue in postmenopausal women.

Unmet needs of people with Parkinson's disease: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To identify the type and extent of unmet needs in people with Parkinson's disease and to examine the impact of health locus of control and family support on these needs. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was conducted from October 2015 - February 2016 in Korea. Data were collected through questionnaires focusing on unmet needs, health locus of control, family support and clinical features. RESULTS: Therapeutic needs represented the highest percentage of unmet needs in people with Parkinson's disease (85.05%), followed by social/spiritual/emotional needs (82.72%). Physical needs were the lowest reported score (75.01%). Unmet needs were more frequent in those with more severe non-motor symptoms. Also, higher family support, internal locus of control and doctor locus of control were correlated with more unmet needs. CONCLUSION: Understanding factors that determine the type and degree of unmet needs in people with PD is important to provide appropriate nursing care. The findings of this study can be used for providing nursing interventions reflecting unmet needs and reducing their unmet needs to improve the overall well-being of people with PD. IMPACT: This study addressed unmet needs unmet needs specific to Parkinson's disease with respect to their nursing needs. Therapeutic needs were the highest unmet needs in people with PD, followed by social/spiritual/emotional needs, need for certainty and physical needs. The findings may be useful for nurses to identify the unmet needs of people with PD which need to be addressed. By reflecting on unmet needs, nurses can give personally tailored nursing care.

Quality of Life of Caregivers of Individuals With Parkinson's Disease.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to construct a structural equation model to predict the quality of life of caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire in South Korea. METHODS: A total of 208 subjects participated in this study from August 31 to November 26, 2015. The questionnaire included caregiving appraisal, social support, educational program needs, and the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-Carer. FINDINGS: Participants were either spouses (46.2%) or adult children (45.2%) of individuals with Parkinson's disease. The mean score obtained on the caregiver's quality of life was 40.94 ± 25.30. Social support, caregiving appraisal, and educational program needs were the predictors, explaining 67.0% of the variance in caregivers' quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Predicting the quality of life is useful for the development of support resources for caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease. Further studies exploring the multidimensional aspects of caregivers' quality of life are needed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Rehabilitation nurses should identify caregivers at high risk in order to improve their quality of life. Nurses should assess education program needs and caregiving appraisal of caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease and develop a customized intervention program.

Non-pharmacological therapies for sleep disturbances in people with Parkinson's disease: A systematic review.

AIM: To determine the effectiveness of non-pharmacological therapies for sleep disturbances in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances, which are common in people with PD, may diminish their quality of life. Non-pharmacological therapies are preferred over pharmacological therapies for improving sleep quality, owing to fewer adverse effects. DESIGN: Systematic literature review. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of eight databases and hand searching was conducted for papers published between 1 January 2000 - 1 January 2016. REVIEW METHODS: The Cochrane methods were followed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool. RESULTS: Eight studies were identified for data extraction. Therapeutic domains included physical exercise, cognitive behavioural and complementary interventions. Therapies in four of the eight studies significantly improved sleep quality and the unified PD rating scale score. Other studies showed no clear effects on sleep (N = 1), limited effects on sleep (N = 1) or effects in both the intervention and control groups, indicating that the intervention had no distinctive effects (N = 2). CONCLUSIONS: The non-pharmacological intervention types and sleep-related measured outcomes were heterogeneous. Most therapies had inconsistent effects on sleep. The insufficient evidence for non-pharmacological treatments seems related to the unique motor-associated clinical features of PD, which restrict the use of physical exercise therapy, or to individual "wearing-off" periods, which limit group therapy. Further studies on non-pharmacological therapies are required to identify the best interventions for improving sleep quality in people with PD.