Introduction
The frequency of Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative ailment that affects the central nervous system, is rising globally. Its early treatment helps attain better outcomes and preserve the high quality of people’s lives. For this reason, it is vital to increase awareness about the major risk factors associated with the disease. Considering the research question introduced above, the following two objectives are formulated:
- To determine how well-informed the people of Almadinah, Saudi Arabia, are about the risk factors for Parkinson’s disease;
- To correlate awareness levels with prevalence rates;
- To create suggestions for raising awareness levels.
To accomplish these goals, the study will employ a cross-sectional design and a self-administered questionnaire.It is expected that the outcomes will promote an enhanced understanding of the problem and how it can be addressed in the city to cultivate a higher quality of life. Data provided by participants can be used to select the most effective tools to cultivate better knowledge of the condition among them.
Background
Parkinson’s disease is one of the serious conditions impacting numerous people globally. Statistics show that it is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder coming after Alzheimer’s disease (Ou et al., 2021). Moreover, it is a leading cause of reduced quality of life and disability globally (Ou et al., 2021). Following the recent reports, the incidence cases of the disease were 1.02 million in 2017, while 6,1 million patients were diagnosed with the condition (Ou et al., 2021).
From 1990 to 2016, the prevalence rates increased by 21,7% (Ou et al., 2021). The growth in the number of new cases can be linked to various factors, such as higher stress levels or environmental issues. The aging tendency of the population might be one of the causes leading to the growing prevalence (Ou et al., 2021). At the same time, the lack of control and management could also be among the factors (Ou et al., 2021). For this reason, an enhanced framework is needed to address the problem.
In Saudi Arabia, Parkinson’s disease is also prevalent, and there are many cases reported every year. Thus, there are around 27 cases per 100,000 population, which is high (Alyamani et al., 2018). Furthermore, Saudi Arabia shows one of the largest increases in the disease’s prevalence in the region, which comprises around 27.7% (Safiri et al., 2023). It means there is a critical need to introduce measures to address the problem and reduce incidence rates.
However, the awareness levels among the population remain low (Alyamani et al., 2018). For this reason, there is a critical need to improve the situation. It can be attained by establishing a new approach to managing the disease, which implies higher levels of population engagement and involvement. In general, the existing data justifies the topicality of the research and the need to evaluate people’s awareness levels in Saudi Arabia.
Previous Research
The scope of the problem and its importance for the population’s health is evidenced by numerous investigations. Thus, Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the lack of dopamine in the brain (Emamzadeh & Surguchov, 2018). The given substance plays a critical role in movement, motivation, memory, and other functions necessary for a person’s activity (Emamzadeh & Surguchov, 2018). Thus, dopamine loss in the brain leads to motor deficiency and cognitive impairment, which might be observed among some patients (Emamzadeh & Surguchov, 2018).
The situation is complicated by the fact that the disease is mostly not recognized at the beginning (Emamzadeh & Surguchov, 2018). It is caused by two factors: the long latency between the first damage and onset of clinical symptoms and the lack of knowledge among population groups (Emamzadeh & Surguchov, 2018). As a result, many individuals come to the hospital when the situation becomes extremely complex.
The severity of Parkinson’s disease is associated with the absence of treatment that might guarantee the complete recovery of the client. The research shows that numerous innovative approaches are in clinical trials, and it is possible to expect the emergence of new and more effective methods (Stoker et al., 2018). However, nowadays, only levodopa, the dopamine precursor, is used to help people with Parkinson’s disease (Armstrong & Okun, 2020; Stoker et al., 2018).
At the same time, prolonged treatment causes the emergence and development of numerous adverse effects (Stoker et al., 2018). Nevertheless, the existing treatments can be effective in restoring and enhancing the motor features of patients with the condition, especially if they are initiated at early stages (Stoker et al., 2018). That is why timely diagnosing is essential for better outcomes.
The existing body of literature also admits that there is a direct correlation between the rates of awareness, treatment, and rehabilitation. For instance, among patients living in rural areas, 67.6% are undetected or misdiagnosed, which impacts the quality of their lives and chances for rehabilitation (Zhang et al., 2020).
Moreover, the effectiveness of self-management of Parkinson’s disease is linked to the awareness levels and overall knowledge of the disease’s nature and major peculiarities (Zhang et al., 2020). This means that patients’ education is the top priority of the methods used to manage the disease. Unfortunately, awareness rates might decline, especially among older people, which might be linked to their educational and cultural backgrounds (Zhang et al., 2020). For this reason, it is vital to focus on investigating the problem and outlining the factors affecting awareness levels among individuals.
Awareness levels are also vital for effective self-management of people with Parkinson’s disease. It is a long-term and complex health condition, meaning that individuals have to learn how to live with it and maintain the desired quality of life (Armstrong et al., 2021). At the same time, the complexity and individualization of every case require support from healthcare professionals (Armstrong et al., 2021). That is why the correct understanding of the current level of knowledge is one of the determinants of effective disease management.
First, it helps to educate patients and help them to understand their symptoms. Second, awareness promotes self-management and closer cooperation with healthcare providers, which is directly linked to positive outcomes (Armstrong et al., 2021). Finally, by possessing better knowledge of Parkinson’s disease, individuals might help other community members and avoid further deterioration of the situation.
Finally, the existing research shows that cultivating higher awareness levels among the population is vital for the Middle Eastern region. Neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, are a severe issue in the area, impacting the quality of people’s lives (Khalil et al., 2020). At the same time, the level of knowledge linked to the problem remains insufficient while the number of needs increases (Khalil et al., 2020). For this reason, it is essential to investigate the existing barriers to generating knowledge about the condition and its enhanced understanding.
Saudi Arabia, as one of the rich and fast-evolving states of the region, has the resources necessary for establishing the framework and educating patients (Khalil et al., 2020). In such a way, the previous research on the topic proves the increased topicality of Parkinson’s disease and the need for its addressing. Furthermore, the literature shows a direct correlation between awareness levels, management, and better treatment outcomes. For this reason, it is essential to address the question to determine the regional needs and acquire an enhanced vision of how the situation can be improved.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
The nature of the proposed research question and objectives means there is a need for personal data collected from individuals living in Almadinah. For this reason, it is vital to introduce inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the high credibility of the findings. First of all, participants will be included if they are 18 years of age or older and inhabitants of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Any individuals with a history of Parkinson’s disease or other neurological conditions that would impair their capacity to comprehend or answer survey questions will be disqualified from participation. Furthermore, people with a family history of the disease or one of the relatives diagnosed with the condition will be excluded as their awareness levels might be higher than others. Using the given criteria, it is possible to attain the high relevance of acquired data and ensure the credibility of the findings.
Impact on Practice
The data acquired in the course of the research will have a positive impact on practice. First, it will cultivate an enhanced understanding of the existing knowledge about Parkinson’s disease in Saudi Arabia, particularly in Almadinah.
Second, the investigation of the awareness levels will indicate the existing gaps in knowledge and how to address them. It is vital for practice as nurses and other health workers should be able to address and manage the problem of high incidence. It can be attained by educating patients and understanding the problems they have in understanding the major symptoms and signs of Parkinson’s disease. In such a way, the study is vital for promoting positive shifts within the current practice. It will help to establish the framework for educating patients and guaranteeing they address health workers if the first signs of the condition emerge.
Conclusion
Altogether, this project proposes to investigate Almadinah’s knowledge of the risk factors for Parkinson’s disease. The study will shed light on the most prevalent risk factors for Parkinson’s disease in the Almadinah community, as well as the populace’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about risk variables. The study’s findings will be helpful for policymakers and healthcare professionals as they design interventions and strategies to lower the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in Almadinah.
This study may offer insightful information about the degree of knowledge of Parkinson’s disease risk factors in Almadinah, Saudi Arabia. The results of this study can guide targeted actions and awareness efforts to raise awareness and lower illness prevalence in the area. In the end, the study’s findings could have wider ramifications for how Parkinson’s disease is treated globally.
References
Alyamani, A. M., Alarifi, J., Alfadhel, A., Alfarawi, F., Alshamardl, K., Alassaf, F., Alyamani, M., & Alshahrani, F. (2018). Public knowledge and awareness about Parkinson’s disease in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 7(6), 1216–1221. Web.
Armstrong, M., & Okun, M. (2020). Diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s disease: A review. JAMA, 323(6):548–560. Web.
Armstrong, M., Tuijt, R., Read, J., Pigott, J., Davies, N., Manthorpe, J., Frost, R., Schrag, A., & Walters, K. (2021). Health care professionals’ perspectives on self-management for people with Parkinson’s: qualitative findings from a UK study. BMC Geriatrics, 21(1), 706. Web.
Emamzadeh, F. N., & Surguchov, A. (2018). Parkinson’s disease: Biomarkers, treatment, and risk factors. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12, 612. Web.
Khalil, H., Chahine, L. M., Siddiqui, J., Salari, M., El-Jaafary, S., Aldaajani, Z., Abu Al-Melh, M., Mohammad, T. M., Abu Snineh, M., Syed, N. A., Bhatt, M., Habib, M. A., Habahbeh, M., Tabbal, S. D., Jeon, B., & Bajwa, J. A. (2020). Parkinson’s disease in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia: Consensus from the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society Task Force for the Middle East. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, 10(2), 729–741. Web.
Ou, Z., Pan, J., Tang, S., Duan, D., Yu, D., Nong, H., & Wang, Z. (2021). Global trends in the incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability of Parkinson’s disease in 204 countries/territories from 1990 to 2019. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 776847. Web.
Safiri, S., Noori, M., Nejadghaderi, S. A., Mousavi, S. E., Sullman, M. J. M., Araj-Khodaei, M., Singh, K., Kolahi, A. A., & Gharagozli, K. (2023). The burden of Parkinson’s disease in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990-2019: Results from the global burden of disease study 2019. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 107. Web.
Stoker, T. B., Torsney, K. M., & Barker, R. A. (2018). Emerging treatment approaches for Parkinson’s disease. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12, 693. Web.
Zhang, H., Wang, Z., Qi, S., Wu, J., & Li, Z. (2020). Awareness, treatment, and rehabilitation of elderly with Parkinson’s disease – China, 2015-2017. CCDC Weekly, 2(15), 241–244. Web.