Project: Optimization of community resources and systems of support to enhance the process of living with Parkinson’s Disease: a multisectoral intervention

Acronym	OPTIM-PARK (Reference Number: HESOCARE-329-051)
Duration	01/01/2019 - 31/12/2022
Project Topic	This project aims to establish the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention that will enhance the process of living with PD for patients and family-carers by building multisectoral care pathways, with a special focus on how to optimize the use of resources and systems of support in the community in disadvantaged populations of different European countries. The experience of living with PD is unique for each person, and influenced by different factors like previous life experiences, values and beliefs, social support and coping skills for patients and family carers, affecting their quality of life. The implementation of care pathways to improve the process of living with PD for patients and families requires a multisectoral and interdisciplinary action plan and important mobilisation of community resources if sustainable and integrated healthsupporting environments are to be delineated. Interagency collaborations are paramount and highlighted in policies for long term conditions but do not currently get implemented and ultimately evaluated. A transformative framework that incorporates a change of culture and dialogue between sectors and levels of care is essential to build an overarching strategy at a European level, which ensures equity, continuity and transparency in health-social care policies for better living with PD. This is a mixed method feasibility study with a sequential exploratory design with 3 phases: Phase 1. Literature reviews and initial qualitative data collection about the availability, use and networking of community resources and systems of support in each participating country. This will feed into the design of a user driven multisectoral intervention focussed on the experience of living with PD for patients and family-carers and optimisation of lay and professional community resources across Europe. Phases 2 and 3. A feasibility study to test the intervention in socially, economically and health-disadvantaged populations in different European contexts, and qualitative and quantitative process evaluation and interpretation of the findings to delineate European care pathways. The transnational cooperation will benefit different stakeholders including professionals, user organizations, and politicians, to improve by learning from ‘good practice’ in a process of disseminating ideas, knowledge and experiences from one political setting to another.
Network	JPCOFUND2
Call	Multinational research projects on Health and Social Care for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON	Coordinator	United Kingdom
2	VIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE	Partner	Denmark
3	UNIVERSITY OF OSLO (UiO)	Partner	Norway
4	UNIVERSITY OF NAVARRE	Partner	Spain
5	HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO DE LA PRINCESA	Partner	Spain