Parkinson's disease: initial assessment and referral
The purpose of this module is to help you to have an appropriate level of suspicion for Parkinson's and to know when and how to refer when you do suspect it.
Parkinson's is common. Its overall prevalence is 0.2% and this rises with age.
Parkinson's also causes considerable morbidity and can have a markedly adverse effect on a patient's quality of life and also on the lives of relatives and carers.
There is a lower life expectancy in people with Parkinson's and this is particularly so for people with younger onset. Despite all this the diagnosis is often delayed or incorrect.
Delayed or incorrect diagnosis can result in the patient receiving inappropriate treatment or no treatment.
What will you learn?
After completing this module, you should know:
- how to take a history and examine a patient with a tremor
- how to assess a patient with suspected Parkinson's
- when and how to refer a patient with suspected Parkinson's
This course was written by BMJ Learning and Parkinson's UK. It is delivered by BMJ Learning.