After a Parkinson's disease diagnosis, which question would be most helpful for the nurse to ask the patient?

• A. What did the physician explain to you about your diagnosis of Parkinson's disease?
• B. I am really sorry about your diagnosis, but the drugs can keep you stable for a long time.
• C. There is a lot of research about Parkinson's disease these days, so many new treatments may be available.
• D. I understand that you are upset by this very bad diagnosis. I will sit here with you for a while.

Answer: (A)

Understanding how to assess a patient’s understanding and information needs after a Parkinson’s diagnosis is essential. The best question invites the patient to recall what the physician explained about the diagnosis, which helps you gauge what they truly understand, identify any gaps or misconceptions, and tailor education and support accordingly. This approach supports informed participation in care and helps plan next steps in treatment and daily management.

The other approaches don’t address understanding as effectively. Simply offering reassurance about drug therapy can give false reassurance and overlook what the patient actually knows or wonders about; bringing up research opportunities may overwhelm or distract from the patient’s immediate needs; and expressing sympathy while staying with the patient is supportive but doesn’t gather essential information to guide education and care planning.