Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on perceived access and quality of care in German people with parkinsonism

Bibliographic Data

ID22085615
AuthorsMarlena van Munster (0000-0002-6135-4860, Philipps University of Marburg), Marcel R Printz (Philipps University of Marburg), Eric Crighton (0000-0003-1124-2913, University of Ottawa), Tiago Mestre (0000-0002-6973-7479, University of Ottawa), Tiago A Mestre, David J Pedrosa (0000-0002-5403-1959, Philipps University of Marburg), iCARE-PD Consortium
Year2023
Volume11
Pages1091737-1091737
Publication date2023-04-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2023.1091737
PMID37124823
OpenAlexW4365515630
LanguageEN
References cited39

Due to the heterogeneous clinical presentation, people with Parkinsonism (PwP) develop individual healthcare needs as their disease progresses. However, because of limited health resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients were put at risk of inadequate care. All this occurred in the context of inequitable healthcare provision within societies, especially for such vulnerable populations. This study aimed to investigate factors influencing satisfaction and unmet need for healthcare among PwP during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Analyses relied on an anonymous online survey with a 49-item questionnaire. We aimed at describing access to health services before and during the early stages of the pandemic. To this end, a generalized linear model was used to derive significant predictors and a stepwise regression to subsummarize the main factors of perceived inadequate care. In total, 551 questionnaires showed that satisfaction with Parkinsonism-related care decreased significantly during the pandemic ( p < 0.001). In particular, factors such as lower educational level, lower perceived expertise of healthcare providers, less confidence in remote care, difficulties in obtaining healthcare, and restricted access to care before the pandemic but also lower densities of neurologists at residence and less ability to overcome barriers were indicative of higher odds to perceive unmet needs ( p < 0.05). The results unveil obstacles contributing to reduced access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic for PwP. These findings enable considerations for improved provision of healthcare services to PwP

Disease · Family medicine · Geography · Health care · Logistic regression · Odds · Pandemic · Political science · Residence · Demography · Medicine · Nursing · Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments · Psychology