Objective: To understand the Knowledge about various Movement Disorders (MD) in general public and in various Movement Disorder Patients subgroups

Background: The incidence of movement disorders (MD)has been increasing over the years, however, understanding about the same in various population subgroups is unknown.

Method: An electronic based standard questionnaire was used to understand the awareness about the MD.  The questionnaire was divided into various sections to specifically target general public, health care professionals, newly diagnosed Parkinson’s disease patients(<1yr), Parkinson’s disease patients already on treatment and other MD patients.  Subjects were asked specific questions in each subsection to understand their awareness about the disorders, and treatment options.

Results: In total 121 subjects (M:F-67:53) responded to the questionnaire. 96.6% of the subjects had some formal education. In relation to the general awareness about MD, only 48% could recognize that ‘Tremors disorders’ are treated by the MD sub-specialist and 46.8% could recognize other MD. In relation to understanding of therapeutic options, 52.6% respondents were not aware of the use of botulinum toxin by MDS. Most of the newly diagnosed PD (83.3%) were aware that quality of life can be improved with treatment and about 70% acknowledging the awareness of non-motor symptoms in PD. However, majority of them (71.4%) did not know about DBS.  In relation to PD patients, who were on regular treatment for more than a year, good compliance of medications was noted in 72.2% of patients with acknowledgment of progression as explained in their initial consults. 82.3% of patients informed a subjective feel of more than 50% improvement in symptoms. Even in this subgroup only 16.7% acknowledged that DBS is an important therapeutic option during the course of PD though most of them didn’t know when the best time for the surgery is.  In patients with non-Parkinsonism MD, half of them were not aware of their working diagnosis but felt satisfactorily improved with therapy.

Conclusion: Awareness about various MD is varied in different subpopulations and even among the patients who are on regular follow up, the awareness about the treatment and diagnosis was limited.   The above study shows that there is dire need to have different modes of counselling and repeated counselling for patients to make sure that they are in-sync with prognosis and treatment options.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/knowledge-attitude-and-practices-about-movement-disorders-in-india/