Participating Faculty: The Case for Early Initiation of Monotherapies and Delayed Dopaminergic Therapy in Parkinson's Disease

This supplement to The American Journal of Managed Care is designed to educate managed healthcare professionals about new information and advancements in the management of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The goal is to be able to illustrate the benefit of earlier intervention as a potential disease-modifying strategy and discuss the evidence that supports it. This activity will aim to provide managed healthcare professionals with the knowledge to assist them in integrating current trends into practice and promoting optimum care for their patients with PD.

Release date: October 10, 2011 | Expiration date: October 10, 2012

Estimated time to complete activity: 3.0 hours

Type of activity: Knowledge-based | Media: Journal supplement

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Teva Neuroscience, Inc.

Intended Audience

The audience for this supplement consists of medical directors, pharmacy directors, and other managed care professionals who oversee the care of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Statement of Educational Need

Considering that the population in the United States is increasing and aging, the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) will also grow from the estimated 1 million to 5 million over the next 40 years. This means that considering the growing prevalence of the disease, the disease and economic burden will increase and there is a need to improve outcomes on both fronts. Among the challenges that exist in optimally treating PD is the lack of accurate diagnosis of PD. In addition, the lack of attention paid to the effects of the disease on patient health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an issue among patients and providers. This is especially important since there is no cure for PD, and the goals of management are to preserve functionality and HRQOL. Thus, educating managed healthcare professionals about advances in PD, the need for improved and accurate diagnosis of PD, and the potential value of early treatment is important to help them optimize the management of PD, improve QOL, and reduce costs attributable to PD care.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be able to:

• Describe the nonmotor symptoms involved in PD and their impact on patient quality of life
• Distinguish between the mechanisms of action of the major classes of pharmacotherapies used in the treatment of PD
• Evaluate therapeutic strategies employed in PD, and design individualized, specific therapeutic strategies based on varied patient characteristics
• Summarize the potential benefits of early PD diagnosis and treatment

Physician Credit

Accreditation Statement / Credit Designation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the University of Cincinnati. The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Cincinnati designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacist Credit

Accreditation Statement / Credit Designation

Pharmacy Times Office of Continuing Professional Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This program is approved for 3.0 contact hours (0.30 CEUs) under the ACPE universal program number 0290-9999-11-044-H01-P. The program is available for CE credit through October 10, 2012.

Method of Participation and Request for Credit

After reading “The Case for Early Initiation of Monotherapies and Delayed Dopaminergic Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease,” complete the program evaluation and select the 1 best answer to each of the posttest questions. A statement of continuing education hours will be provided to those physicians and pharmacists who successfully complete and return the answer form and program evaluation and receive a passing grade of 70% or higher.

Activity Fee

Physician Fee:

This lesson is offered free of cost.

Pharmacist Fee:

This lesson is offered free online at www.PharmacyTimes.com. Mailed or faxed posttests will be processed for a nominal fee of $10.00.

Faculty

Jack J. Chen, PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, CGP

Associate Professor of Neurology, Department of Pharmacotherapy and Outcomes Science, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University - Loma Linda, CA

Michael W. Jann, PharmD

Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Mercer University - Atlanta, GA

Kelly E. Lyons, PhD

Research Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center - Kansas City, KS

Rajesh Pahwa, MD

Laverne and Joyce Rider Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center - Kansas City, KS

Faculty Disclosures

These faculty have disclosed the following relevant commercial financial relationships or affiliations in the past 12 months:

Jack J. Chen, PharmD, BCPS, CGP, FASCP

Consultant/advisory board/honoraria:

Speaker’s bureau:

Chelsea Pharmaceuticals, Teva Neuroscience, Inc; Teva Neuroscience, Inc

Michael W. Jann, PharmD

Speaker’s bureau/advisory board:

Janssen

Kelly E. Lyons, PhD

Board membership:

Advisory board:

Consultant:

Royalties:

President of the International Essential Tremor Foundation; St. Jude Medical; Teva Neuroscience, Inc; Oxford University Press

Rajesh Pahwa, MD

Consultant/advisory board:

Lecturer:

Royalties:

Adamas, EMD Serono, Impax, Medtronic, Novartis, St. Jude Medical, Teva Neuroscience, Inc; GE, Teva Neuroscience, Inc; Oxford University Press

The American Journal of Managed Care

The planning staff from the University of Cincinnati, , and the Pharmacy Times Office of Continuing Professional Education have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Signed disclosures are on file at the office of Pharmacy Times Office of Continuing Professional Education and The American Journal of Managed Care, Plainsboro, New Jersey.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

The contents of this supplement may include information regarding the use of products that may be inconsistent with or outside the approved labeling for these products in the United States. Physicians should note that the use of these products outside current approved labeling is considered experimental and are advised to consult prescribing information for these products.

System Requirements

PC-based participants

Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh®-based participants

Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

© 2011 Managed Care & Healthcare Communications, LLC

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