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A screening and alerting questionnaire for parkinsonism
W J Mutch1, W C Smith, R F Scott
1Department of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, Scotland.
Neuroepidemiology
|January 1, 1991
Summary
A simple questionnaire effectively screened for parkinsonism, identifying key symptoms like shaking and shuffling walk. This tool aids early detection in general practice settings.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Parkinsonism diagnosis can be challenging in primary care.
- Early identification of parkinsonism is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a brief, self-administered screening questionnaire for parkinsonism.
- To assess the efficacy of specific symptoms in differentiating parkinsonism cases from controls.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 35 parkinsonism patients and 88 controls completed an eight-symptom questionnaire.
- Statistical analysis focused on symptom frequency and discriminatory power between groups.
Main Results:
- Shaking and difficulty with small buttons were most common in parkinsonism cases.
- Shaking was the most discriminating symptom; adding shuffling walk improved accuracy.
- A combined symptom approach correctly identified 91% of cases and 92% of controls.
Conclusions:
- A concise questionnaire using symptoms like shaking and shuffling walk can effectively screen for parkinsonism.
- This tool holds potential for early parkinsonism detection in general practice populations.