People living with Parkinson’s and their families and carers can help shape future medical and allied health care through a national survey.
Organisers are keen to ensure Australia-wide participation in the survey so that the voices of rural, regional, culturally diverse, and First Nations communities are all heard.
The confidential “Your Voice, Your Needs National Survey to Strengthen Parkinson’s Education for Health Professionals” survey, conducted by Parkinson’s Australia, the Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited (AGPAL) and Client Focused Evaluation Program (CFEP) Surveys, is open until 10 February.
Insights from the survey will help guide the Parkinson’s Disease Education Exchange (PDEX), which aims to build an education program for health professionals shaped directly by lived experience.
Olivia Nassaris, Parkinson’s Australia, CEO, says anyone living with Parkinson’s or supporting someone with Parkinson’s is invited to make their voice heard.
“We want to ensure our education program reflects the full range of experiences across Australia,” Ms Nassaris says.
“Responses will influence the training that health professionals use for years to come.
“The more people who take part, the stronger and more representative our education program will be of the needs of people with lived experience.
“Many health professionals report low confidence in recognising early signs of Parkinson’s.
“Early symptoms are often non-motor, such as constipation, sleep problems, depression, anxiety, fatigue and changes in smell.
“These symptoms appear in many other health conditions and are often missed in routine care.
“They can appear years before movement changes, making early diagnosis more complex.
“We’re aiming to close these gaps by strengthening the understanding of Parkinson’s, which includes diagnosis, management of symptoms, access to therapies, communication with care teams and the pressures placed on caregivers.”
About the survey:
To participate go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQGYBDN
