earticle

영어

The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors and awareness about Parkinson's disease (PD) in young adults and the elderly. This study is a cross-sectional study design by survey. Survey data were collected from 200 young adults (100 majoring in health care, 100 majoring in non-health care) and 99 elderly people. A self-written questionnaire consisted of 6 questions for general characterisitics of subjects and 45 questions relate to the PD, 15 questions each in the awareness level of PD symptoms, the perception level of PD risk factor, and recognmition and attitude. As a result of the study, 98 young adults majoring in health care, 83 young adults majoring in non-health care, and 75 elderly people had experience in acquiring information about PD. In addition, the most common sources of PD information were books and research paper for young adults majoring in health care and broadcast media for young adults majoring in non-health care. In the contrary, the elderly obtained from their acquaintances. Based on the results of this study, this study would suggest the necessity of health education about symptoms, risk factors, perceptions and attitudes related to the PD for ordinary people and the elderly. Health education about PD may be helpful to enable early diagnosis and treatment when symptoms of PD appear, reducing the burden of medical expenses for the elderly, and will be the primary preventive activity against PD.