Thursday, June 28, 2012
First Canadian guidelines launched for Parkinson’s disease
The Parkinson Society Canada, in partnership with leading movement disorder specialists and neurologists from across Canada, has launched the first Canadian Guidelines on Parkinson’s Disease.
Canada has not had a consistent standard for diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s disease.
The society hopes the guidelines will lead to better diagnosis, care and treatment for more than 100,000 Canadians with Parkinson’s Disease.
The guidelines provide healthcare professionals with practical, clinical advice for the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s, based on the best published evidence and on expert consensus.
The 84 recommendations are designed primarily for family physicians, neurologists, and other health care professionals.
The Canadian Guidelines on Parkinson’s Disease will be published in July in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, available online now.
The guidelines have been endorsed by the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation and Parkinson Society Canada.
“Most Canadians with Parkinson’s do not attend specialized Parkinson’s or movement disorders clinics,” says Dr. David Grimes, director of The Ottawa Hospital’s Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic and editor of the guidelines.
“A tool was needed so that all health care providers who treat people with Parkinson’s in Canada have a clear idea on how best to help individuals manage their disease.
“The guidelines are meant to improve the standard of care and access to care for people with Parkinson’s in all regions of Canada.”
The guidelines were written collaboratively by neurologists and movement disorder specialists, with input from people with Parkinson’s, surgeons, family physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and Parkinson Society Canada.
The guidelines will be distributed to family physicians, pharmacists, nurses and allied health professionals, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech language pathologists.
The guidelines and supporting materials are also available online.
Education materials related to the guidelines were made possible through grants from Abbott Laboratories, Merck Canada, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada, Teva Canada Innovation and UCB Canada.
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