Using the PDQ-39 in Routine Care for Parkinson's Disease

Introduction: Using the 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) in routine care could efficiently identify symptoms that are most important to patients, but little evidence documents its use for this purpose.

Methods: A quality improvement pilot project using interviews with patients, caregivers, and providers.

Results: PDQ administration and scoring were successfully integrated into clinic workflows, and results were available for discussions during outpatient visits. Patients reported that completing the instrument helped them remember what to discuss with their provider, formulate specific questions, and identify factors affecting their quality of life. Caregivers found it useful for gaining insight into patients' daily needs. The neurologist reported it made provider-patient discussions more efficient by focusing on domains that were particularly concerning for patients. Ancillary care providers reported that PDQ-39 domain subscores efficiently provided a holistic view of patients' needs and supported setting short- and long-term goals.

Conclusion: The PDQ-39 can be integrated into a busy clinical practice and its routine use is valuable for patients, caregivers, and providers.