Physiotherapy in Parkinson's disease: utilisation and patient satisfaction

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) management often includes physiotherapy.
• Understanding the current provision of physiotherapy for PD patients in the Netherlands is crucial for optimizing care.
• Limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions for Parkinson's disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the quality and quantity of physiotherapy services for Parkinson's disease patients in the Netherlands.
• To evaluate the appropriateness of physiotherapy referrals and treatment for PD patients.
• To identify patient satisfaction and therapist characteristics in PD physiotherapy.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage postal questionnaire study was conducted.
• 300 Parkinson's disease patients received initial questionnaires.
• 129 physiotherapists treating identified PD patients received subsequent questionnaires.

Main Results:

• 235 patients and 99 therapists completed questionnaires.
• 60% of PD patients received physiotherapy, often long-term.
• Referrals appeared arbitrary, with many patients needing but not receiving care, and vice versa.
• 60% of patients saw therapists lacking specific PD expertise.
• Patient satisfaction was generally high, though 11% switched therapists due to dissatisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Physiotherapy referral rates and treatment durations for Parkinson's disease in the Netherlands are high.
• Referral practices may not always align with patient needs, and evidence supporting physiotherapy effectiveness in PD is limited.
• There is a need to improve the targeting and standardization of physiotherapy for Parkinson's disease patients.