Self-Management Behaviors of Arabs and Jews With Parkinson's Disease and Their Associations With Health Outcomes

Health Outcomes in Patients With Parkinson's Disease in Israel: Associations With Accessibility, Utilization of Healthcare Services and Patients' Attitudes Among Different Ethnic Groups.

The study will examine the reciprocal relationships between the community, healthcare system, and personal determinants of self-management behaviors in persons with Parkinson's disease and their association with the performance of these behaviors in persons with Parkinson's Disease.

In the first part of the study, data will be extracted from electronic medical records of 2500. In the second part of the study, a sub-sample of 200 participants with Parkinson's disease will be asked to answer standardized questionnaires.

Parkinson's disease is a chronic, protracted condition. Its diverse symptoms affect the daily functioning and quality of life of patients and their families. The progressive disability is accompanied by medical complications and hospitalizations, which increase the economic burden on patients and healthcare systems. Factors that can mitigate these adverse consequences include care from a neurologist, rehabilitative treatments, and patients' use of self-management strategies. However, studies suggest that Patients with Parkinson from minority groups are less likely to be treated by a neurologist. Also, it is unclear whether Patients with Parkinson from minority groups are offered self-management strategies.

The study objectives were: To (1) to identify the reciprocal relationships among extra- and intra-personal level determinants of Self-Management Behaviors and their association with performance of these behaviors in persons with Parkinson's Disease, (2) identify the relationships between self-management behaviors (medical and lifestyle), function, and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Phase A of the study is a retrospective study based on extraction and analysis of data from electronic medical records, and phase B of the study is a cross-sectional study based on face-to-face meetings with a subsample of the patients whose data are included in the retrospective study.

Inclusion Criteria for the retrospective study: People diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

Exclusion Criteria: None.

Inclusion Criteria for the cross-sectional study:

1. Diagnosis of PD.
2. Jewish sector will be fluency in Hebrew (comprehension, speaking, and reading), and for the Arab sector, fluency in Arabic or Hebrew (comprehension, speaking, and reading).

Exclusion Criteria for the cross-sectional study:

1. Acute hospitalization in the last 3 months.
2. Severe co-morbidities other than PD that affect daily living, special populations including pregnant women, minors (<18 years old).
3. Patients who are not eligible to sign consent forms due to physical or mental conditions.
4. People who have a guardian, score less than 20 in the Mini-Mental state exam test.