Knowledge and Misconceptions About Parkinson's Disease in Lebanon: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting brain structure and function. It is manifested by unintended movements, characterized by tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. According to the statistics reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of PD has doubled over the past 25 years. Nowadays, PD has become a major global health burden, including in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon. Since 2000, the number of people living with PD has increased by 81%, whereas mortality associated with the disease has risen by more than 100%.

Our goal in this study is to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of PD among community-dwelling Lebanese individuals across different age groups and from various segments of society.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of the Lebanese population, encompassing individuals from various regions of the country. A questionnaire covering participants' sociodemographic characteristics, as well as the etiology, symptoms, management, and other aspects of PD, was distributed via Google Form to individuals from diverse professional, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Using a systematic sampling method, we gathered data from 582 participants.

Among the 582 participants, we observed significantly lower levels of knowledge regarding the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PD, particularly among individuals employed outside the healthcare sector and those with lower levels of education.

The outcomes showed us that there is an extensive knowledge gap in neurological disorders, especially in PD, concerning the etiologies of its occurrence and how to deal with patients having the disorder. Our community in Lebanon needs more awareness about PD, which will play an important role in the acceptance and understanding of the disorder.