Characteristics and predictors of allied health service use among women with Parkinson’s disease
Synopsis
Mobility problems are
common in people with Parkinson's disease (PD), contributing to falls and poor
quality of life. Despite evidence that allied health interventions such as
physiotherapy improve mobility and reduce falls in people with PD, particularly
in early disease stages, most people with PD are referred to allied health
later in disease when mobility problems are pronounced. This study aims to
investigate (i) what allied health services people with PD access, and what
characteristics are associated with differences in access (eg, living in
rural/remote versus metropolitan areas, by socioeconomic status, by PD
severity); (ii) time from diagnosis to use of publicly-funded allied health services,
and (iii) associations between allied health service use and health services
associated with deteriorating mobility, ie, hospitalisation for rehabilitation,
falls and fractures, and nursing home admission.