Table 1 Questionnaire responses according to medical specialty
Item | GP (n = 43) | Geriatrician (n = 33) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
Demographic data | |||
Male, n (%) | 22 (51.2%) | 11 (33.3%) | 0.12 |
Years of practice, median (Q1-Q3) | 9 (6–16.5) | 7 (5–13) | 0.74 |
Consult duration in minutes, median (Q1-Q3) | 10 (10–15) | 20 (15–30) | < 0.001 |
PD diagnosis and treatment, n(%) | |||
Confident making PD diagnosis | 30 (69.8%) | 26 (78.8%) | 0.38 |
Comfortable starting DRT | 4 (9.3%) | 19 (57.6%) | < 0.001 |
Reasons for discomfort starting DRT | |||
Not familiar with types and/or dosage of medications) | 33 (76.7%) | 10 (30.3%) | < 0.001 |
Not comfortable with providing PD education) | 27 (62.8%) | 5 (15.2%) | < 0.001 |
Patients want a neurologist’s diagnosis of PD before starting medication) | 19 (44.1%) | 3 (9.10%) | 0.002 |
PD management practices and styles, n(%) | |||
Query about falls | 37 (86.0%) | 33 (100%) | 0.025 |
Query about non-motor symptoms | 23 (53.5%) | 25 (75.8%) | 0.049 |
Query about side effects of PD medications | 24 (55.8%) | 24 (72.7%) | 0.13 |
Query about medication timing in relation to meals | 10 (23.2%) | 11 (33.3%) | 0.33 |
Query about physical activity | 18 (41.9%) | 24 (72.7%) | 0.01 |
Refer to neurologist | 42 (97.7%) | 4 (12.1%) | < 0.001 |
Contact neurologist before initiating change in medications | 8 (18.6%) | 10 (30.3%) | 0.23 |
Correctly identified whether department had guidelines for PD care | 13 (30.2%) | 17 (51.5%) | 0.06 |