Table 2 Specific nursing interventions according to the Dutch guideline for nursing care in Parkinson’s disease that are also reminiscent of the Fundamentals of Care Framework
Area | Interventions |
|---|---|
Mental function | Providing information and education Activation and supporting the creation of a day structure Supporting the caregiver |
Fatigue | Supporting the intake of food with sufficient caloric value Promoting physical exercise Structuring daily activities |
Sleep | Providing sleep hygiene advice (e.g., no alcohol or caffeine before sleep, no watching television or using the computer before sleep) Changing medication in consultation with the neurologist in case of nocturnal on/off fluctuations |
Urogenital functions | Advising to drink 1.5–2.0 L of fluid per day Advising the reduction of fluid intake before sleep Advising the intake of food rich in fibers |
Sexuality | Providing information and education Providing specific advice according to the type of sexual dysfunction (e.g., reduced sexual desire, erectile dysfunction) |
Medication adherence | Providing information and education about the timing and intake of medication (e.g., with water, not with milk) Stimulating medication adherence |
Orthostatic hypotension | Advising to wear support stockings Advising to have sufficient salt and fluid intake per day Providing advice about postural changes |
Caregiver burden | Providing information and education Refer the caregiver for cognitive behavioral therapy Refer the caregiver to a Parkinson’s disease-specific support group |
Coping | Advising mindfulness training Supporting patients and caregivers to view problems from different perspectives to develop new strategies for solving these problems Refer for cognitive behavioral therapy |
Mobility | Applying cognitive movement strategies Applying external cues Stimulating the patient to perform sufficient physical exercise |
Self-management | Stimulating the patient to ask questions Providing individualized patient-related information Asking if the provided information matches the patient’s question |
Dietary issues | Providing information and education about problems with food absorption (e.g., because of the interaction with protein intake) Preventing accidental weight loss Providing advice about oral care |