THURSDAY, April 28 (HealthDay News) -- Group patient visits, in which medical appointments are shared by patients with a common condition, may provide a feasible means of caring for patients with Parkinson's disease, according to research published online April 27 in Neurology.
E. Ray Dorsey, M.D., M.B.A., of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues compared feasibility and quality-of-life measurements in 30 patients with Parkinson's disease randomized to group care or usual (one-on-one) care to evaluate the former as an approach for caring for this patient population.
The researchers found that 13 of 15 and 14 of 15 patients in the group care cohort and regular care cohort, respectively, completed the study. There was no difference between the two groups in quality-of-life scores measured 12 months after baseline.
"Group patient visits may be a feasible means of providing care to individuals with Parkinson's disease and may offer an alternative or complementary method of care delivery for some patients and physicians," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical and/or medical device companies.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)