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Family members of people with Parkinson's are being sought to take part in a study examining their experiences in dealing with health care professionals.

"Partners of people with Parkinson's have unique and crucial first-hand knowledge that is essential for providing effective care," said researcher Meredith Bolland, from The University of Western Australia.  "Yet according to the literature, this valuable information is not always acknowledged or valued by health care professionals."

Ms Bolland and fellow researchers from Edith Cowan University want to investigate how partners of people with Parkinson's experience their interactions and engagements with health professionals. They hope the information gained will help highlight to professionals the value of listening to and acknowledging partners' input.

Ms Bolland said such information could help provide more effective care for people with Parkinson's.  However, there had been a lack of research focusing on the degree to which health professionals listened to partners' input.

"This study will investigate and describe in detail the nature and interpretations of partners' experiences of engaging with Parkinson's health professionals," she said.

Ms Bolland, a post-graduate trainee clinical psychologist at UWA's School of Psychology, is seeking up to 30 volunteers who live in Perth and who are partners of people with Parkinson's.

The volunteers will take part in comprehensive, confidential interviews about their experiences of dealing with health professionals.  Interviews will be arranged at a mutually acceptable time and place.  This may include interviews at UWA or home visits by the researcher.

The interviews, expected to take 30-60 minutes, will be recorded and analysed for the meanings of the individuals' experiences.  Researchers may follow up with volunteers 6-12 months later to check their interpretations.

People interested in participating should contact Meredith Bolland on 0414 511 037.

Media references

Professor Romola Bucks (UWA School of Psychology)  (+61 8)  6488 3232
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783