Managing Parkinson's during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from people living with Parkinson's and health professionals.
Dia Soilemezi, Helen C Roberts, Maria Victoria Navarta-Sánchez and 4 others
PMID 35581711WHAT IT FOUND
During UK pandemic restrictions, people with Parkinson's described lost group exercise, physiotherapy and social contact as isolating, while remote consultations helped some but raised concerns about access for older or less digitally confident people.
Key findings
01People with Parkinson's reported frustration and isolation when family contact, social activities, exercise classes and physiotherapy were stopped.
02Remote consultations were mixed: some services reduced waiting lists, but clinicians worried about assessment accuracy and access for older or digitally excluded people.
03Some people stayed connected through voluntary organisations and online support, and remote consultations sometimes involved family members more.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only 21 people took part, all White British, and most were from southern England, so the experiences may not apply to other groups or regions. The people with Parkinson's were recruited through adverts and snowballing, and many were already able and willing to use virtual technology, which may miss people who were more isolated or digitally excluded. The study explored experiences during COVID-19 restrictions; it does not show whether remote consultations or online support improve Parkinson's outcomes. Family carers were not interviewed, although their support and burden were discussed by participants. Two researchers with professional backgrounds analysed the data, and their perspectives may have shaped the themes.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. No funding source is stated in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that remote consultations or online Parkinson's support improve care. It reports 21 people's experiences during UK pandemic restrictions, and some clinicians and participants raised concerns about access, assessment accuracy and isolation.