Patient education in Parkinson's disease: Formative evaluation of a standardized programme in seven European countries.

Objective: To evaluate a newly developed education programme for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.

Methods: The programme consisted of eight sessions and aimed at improving knowledge and skills related to self-monitoring, health promotion, stress management, depression, anxiety, social competence, and social support, all with special reference to PD. The programme was formatively evaluated in seven European countries (Spain, Finland, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Estonia, Germany) with 151 patients diagnosed with idiopathic PD.