My Parkinson's Story: A Novel Format For a Patient Education Video Series (P04.257)

OBJECTIVE: To create an easily accessible educational tool to describe common issues and problems faced by people with Parkinson9s Disease (PD) and provide practical ways to deal with those problems. BACKGROUND: PD has many common motor and non-motor symptoms. We wanted to develop an engaging way to describe these symptoms and their treatment. Basic educational theory dictates that new information about symptoms and treatments is more easily retained if it is presented in context of a clinical scenario or patient story. DESIGN/METHODS: The topics for the videos were chosen from a recent unpublished VA PADRECC (PD centers of excellence) needs assessment. The primary format for the video series is to use a single PD patient with their caregiver/ family if appropriate with their provider and any ancillary staff or rehab team members to highlight a specific problem. Where possible, patients and caregivers were filmed in their own home surroundings doing the activities they describe in the video. Providers were chosen for content expertise, and discussed practical solutions to the problems. Videos were shot on location at PADRECC sites using a central producer who traveled to the sites with a local film crew. Videos are currently available on DVD, and approval for posting the internet is pending. Grant funding for production was obtained through the VA Employee Educational System (EES). RESULTS: Copies of the DVD will be available for distribution and viewing free of charge. The topics covered in the initial series included the following (8-10 min each): Early PD, Depression, Falls, Memory and thinking problems, Sleep problems, Genetics, Environmental exposures, and Deep brain stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to create engaging video content on generalizable informational content about a specific disease topic through the use of a single patient story told with the guidance of their provider. Supported by: Veteran9s Administration. Disclosure: Dr. Kraakevik has received research support from Xanthera and Medivation. Dr. Heath has received personal compensation for activities with Medtronic as a speaker.