Predictors and Level of Knowledge Regarding Parkinson’s Disease among Patients: A Cross‑sectional Study from Thailand

Abstract

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in gradual
decline of motor, autonomic, and neuropsychiatric functions of the patient. Knowledge and factors
responsible for Parkinson’s disease (PD) are important among patients that could positively affect their
attitude and perceptions. This study was conducted to determine the factors influencing and level of
the knowledge regarding Parkinson’s disease in Thailand.

Methods: This cross‑sectional study was
conducted on 125 patients admitted in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital Bangkok, Thailand.
Sociodemographic variables and clinical characteristics were collected as predictors of knowledge,
treatment, and self‑care for PD. A validated, piloted, pretested tool was used for data collection.
Multiple linear regressions were used to find the most influencing predictor of knowledge about PD.
The study was approved by the Ethical Board of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

Results: The
level of education was found to be the most significant (P = 0.005) predictor of PD knowledge.
PD patients with high education had significantly higher knowledge scores than those with low
education in all aspects of disease (P = 0.041), treatment (P = 0.014), and self‑care (P = 0.011). PD
knowledge was poor in variables such as levodopa (62%), nonmotor symptoms (54%), and stem cell
transplantation (40%), respectively.

Conclusion: The study results conclude that educational level is
the most important predictor of knowledge about Parkinson’s disease.

Keywords: Awareness, cure, education, knowledge level, misconception and determinants of Parkinson, motor disease awareness, Parkinson’s disease