A Randomized Clinical Trial
Is outpatient palliative care associated with improvements in patient or caregiver outcomes compared with current standards of care among persons with Parkinson disease and related disorders?
In this randomized clinical trial of 210 patients with Parkinson disease and related disorders and 175 caregivers, patients receiving palliative care had better quality of life at 6 months (primary outcome) as well as better symptom burden and rates of advance directive completion. No significant difference was found in caregiver burden at 6 months (coprimary outcome).
Outpatient palliative care may improve certain patient and caregiver outcomes associated with Parkinson disease and related disorders.