Saturdays-in-Motion: Education and Empowerment through an Interdisciplinary Team Approach for Parkinson’s Disease in Cali-Colombia

Abstract EN

Introduction.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

The progression of PD produces an important disease burden in patients due to functional impairment, which also has repercussions on caregivers.

In addition, it has become a challenge for health systems, especially in developing countries, which have limited resources.

Multidisciplinary teams with a community approach have proved effective in high-income countries; however, there is no reported literature in low- and middle-income countries about this kind of initiative.

Objective.

This paper aims to document the experience of patients, caregivers, and experts in a community approach as an innovative model in a middle-income country.

Methods.

A quantitative descriptive research was conducted.

The selection criteria were having a PD diagnosis, attending with a caregiver to Saturdays in Motion (SIM), or being a clinical expert invited to SIM.

PD patients and their caregivers answered three surveys on their points of view with respect to SIM: SIM and their quality of life (QoL) and PDQ-39 and Zarit, whereas clinical experts completed two questions related to the SIM program.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results of the surveys and clinical tests.

Results.

Forty-eight, twenty-four, and twenty-one subjects answered surveys one, two, and three, respectively.

In total, four clinical experts were interviewed.

87.9% of the patients consider that SIM activities improved their QoL.

The most affected areas in PDQ-39 were those related to the social area.

Around 66.6% of the caregivers reported a mild burden on Zarit and think that SIM enhances the PD patient’s QoL.

Clinical experts highlighted the sense of community and empathy.

Conclusion.

Our preliminary experience shows a multidisciplinary model with a community approach which redefines the traditional relationship between patients, caregivers, and clinical experts.

This aim of this initiative is that education and empowerment patients and caregivers reach a better perception of QoL.