Purpose of the online survey
The current diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is generally made only once visible movement difficulties are present. However, studies have found that symptoms, for example, loss of smell, gut problems, sleeping disorders and changes in vision can precede movement difficulties by up to 20 years. This information could be useful in developing an easily accessible, inexpensive, non-invasive tool for early testing of Parkinson’s.
The purpose of the survey is to:
- Evaluate opinions and attitudes towards uptake of existing screenings (4 questions).
- Evaluate the awareness of Parkinson’s through knowledge and association with Parkinson’s (2 questions).
- Evaluate views on a hypothetical future screening for Parkinson’s and its potential implementation (7 questions).
Is this online survey legitimate?
Yes. This research project by The University of Melbourne has been reviewed and approved by Fight Parkinson’s Research Committee.
The research project has also been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee – ID #32699.
Who can participate in the online survey?
If you meet the following criteria, you may qualify to complete the survey:
- You are aged 18+
- You are living in Australia
- You are fluent in the English language
- You do not have to be a person living with Parkinson’s to complete the survey – you could be a carer, support person, healthcare professional, friend, family member or a member of the general public.
What is involved?
Participation in the online survey is voluntary and anonymous. It should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Questions include general demographics, status and views on current and prospective future screenings.
What are the benefits of this research study?
- The individual: Those who complete the online survey will have the option to go into the draw to win 1 in 5 x $50 vouchers.
- The collective: Completing this online survey will help shape the future of Parkinson’s screening in Australia. The findings of this research study will help researchers to design a simple, accessible vision-based screening test that could detect Parkinson’s earlier, potentially improving quality of life for those at risk.
How to complete the survey
- Visit bit.ly/3Qi23Te OR scan the QR code below
- Read the Plain Language Statement
- Read the Consent Form
- Complete the Survey
Important notes for the community:
- Please keep in mind that participation in this survey is completely voluntary.
- Do not include any identifiable information of yourself or anyone else.
- These questions were designed to assist the evaluation of attitudes, views and opinions on screenings for certain health conditions, and should any of these questions or statements make you feel uncomfortable, raise unintentional emotional or personal concerns, or you simply do not wish to answer, you may skip the question by selecting the option ‘I prefer not to say’ or cease completing the questionnaire.
- Contact details of helplines and information on Parkinson’s are available, should you wish to learn more.
How to access support
If you require support with the online survey, please contact:
- Alena Hodzic – [email protected] OR
- A/Prof Christine Nguyen – [email protected]
Please visit Parkinson’s News and Resources | Fight Parkinson’s to learn about other past and present research opportunities supported by Fight Parkinson’s.
