Expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in Portugal: insights from a Portuguese Delphi Consensus

Aim: Safinamide is an approved medication for managing motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, limited data exist regarding its application in clinical practice in Portugal and the perspectives of Portuguese neurologists on its use. To address this, a group of Portuguese specialis...

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Main Authors: Ana Margarida Rodrigues, Cristina Costa, Miguel Gago, Miguel Grunho, Leonor Correia Guedes, Ana Morgadinho, Maria Jose Rosas, Rita Simoes, Ana Graca Velon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Becaris Publishing Limited 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research
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author Ana Margarida Rodrigues
Cristina Costa
Miguel Gago
Miguel Grunho
Leonor Correia Guedes
Ana Morgadinho
Maria Jose Rosas
Rita Simoes
Ana Graca Velon
author_facet Ana Margarida Rodrigues
Cristina Costa
Miguel Gago
Miguel Grunho
Leonor Correia Guedes
Ana Morgadinho
Maria Jose Rosas
Rita Simoes
Ana Graca Velon
author_sort Ana Margarida Rodrigues
collection DOAJ
description Aim: Safinamide is an approved medication for managing motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, limited data exist regarding its application in clinical practice in Portugal and the perspectives of Portuguese neurologists on its use. To address this, a group of Portuguese specialists with recognized expertise in PD management convened to compile the insights on various aspects of safinamide use in PD patients among the field and to develop recommendations aimed at informing and guiding physicians in Portugal on its optimal clinical application. Materials & methods: A focus group composed of nine Portuguese PD experts developed a questionnaire building on the 2022 European Delphi study, and employed a Delphi methodology approach to gather the views of Portuguese neurologists with a minimum of 5 years of clinical experience with safinamide (n = 35). A final online questionnaire comprising 35 statements was administered in a single-round Delphi format, utilizing a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined as achieving ≥66% agreement or disagreement among the panelists. Results: A strong consensus emerged among Portuguese neurologists regarding the therapeutic efficacy of safinamide in addressing motor symptoms, motor fluctuations and quality of life. Additionally, agreement was reached on its positive effects on nonmotor symptoms such as sleep, fatigue, mood, quality of life and pain management. However, no consensus was achieved regarding safinamide’s efficacy in managing orthostatic hypotension, cognitive issues, urinary and sexual dysfunction, as well as its safety profile in PD patients with hallucinations. Overall, the opinions of Portuguese neurologists aligned closely with those of their European counterparts. Conclusion: This Delphi study highlights the consensus among Portuguese neurologists on the efficacy of safinamide for managing motor symptoms in PD. The considerations presented herein offer essential guidance for effectively managing PD with safinamide, ultimately enhancing patient care in Portugal.
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spelling doaj-art-b75aba37838f4c129be88b344fe7e01e2025-08-20T03:27:58ZengBecaris Publishing LimitedJournal of Comparative Effectiveness Research2042-63132025-01-0114710.57264/cer-2024-0228Expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in Portugal: insights from a Portuguese Delphi ConsensusAna Margarida Rodrigues0Cristina Costa1Miguel Gago2Miguel Grunho3Leonor Correia Guedes4Ana Morgadinho5Maria Jose Rosas6Rita Simoes7Ana Graca Velon8CNS - Campus Neurologico (Braga), 4710-452 Braga, PortugalCNS - Campus Neurologico (Braga), 4710-452 Braga, Portugal; Department of Neurology, Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, Unidade Local de Saude Amadora/Sintra, 2720-276 Amadora, PortugalCNS - Campus Neurologico (Braga), 4710-452 Braga, Portugal; Department of Neurology, Hospital da Senhora da Oliveira, Unidade Local de Saude do Alto Ave, 4835-044 Guimaraes, Portugal; Life & Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, PortugalDepartment of Neurology, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Unidade Local de Saude de Alma; da-Seixal, 2805-267 Almada, Portugal; Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CiiEM), Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Caparica, Almada, PortugalCNS - Campus Neurologico (Torres Vedras), 2560-280 Torres Vedras, Portugal; Department of Neurosciences & Mental Health, Neurology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Unidade Local de Saude Santa Maria, 1649-035 Lisbon, Portugal; Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, 1649-028 Lisbon, PortugalDepartment of Neurology, Hospital Hospital da Luz Coimbra, 3020-479 Coimbra, Portugal; Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging & Translational Research (CIBIT), 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalDepartment of Neurology, Hospital de Sao Joao, Unidade Local de Saude de Sao Joao, 4200-319 Porto, PortugalCNS - Campus Neurologico (Torres Vedras), 2560-280 Torres Vedras, Portugal; Department of Neurology, Hospital Beatriz Angelo, Unidade Local de Saude de Loures-Odivelas, 2674-514 Loures, PortugalDepartment of Neurology, Unidade Local de Saude de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-508 Vila Real, PortugalAim: Safinamide is an approved medication for managing motor fluctuations in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, limited data exist regarding its application in clinical practice in Portugal and the perspectives of Portuguese neurologists on its use. To address this, a group of Portuguese specialists with recognized expertise in PD management convened to compile the insights on various aspects of safinamide use in PD patients among the field and to develop recommendations aimed at informing and guiding physicians in Portugal on its optimal clinical application. Materials & methods: A focus group composed of nine Portuguese PD experts developed a questionnaire building on the 2022 European Delphi study, and employed a Delphi methodology approach to gather the views of Portuguese neurologists with a minimum of 5 years of clinical experience with safinamide (n = 35). A final online questionnaire comprising 35 statements was administered in a single-round Delphi format, utilizing a 5-point Likert scale. Consensus was defined as achieving ≥66% agreement or disagreement among the panelists. Results: A strong consensus emerged among Portuguese neurologists regarding the therapeutic efficacy of safinamide in addressing motor symptoms, motor fluctuations and quality of life. Additionally, agreement was reached on its positive effects on nonmotor symptoms such as sleep, fatigue, mood, quality of life and pain management. However, no consensus was achieved regarding safinamide’s efficacy in managing orthostatic hypotension, cognitive issues, urinary and sexual dysfunction, as well as its safety profile in PD patients with hallucinations. Overall, the opinions of Portuguese neurologists aligned closely with those of their European counterparts. Conclusion: This Delphi study highlights the consensus among Portuguese neurologists on the efficacy of safinamide for managing motor symptoms in PD. The considerations presented herein offer essential guidance for effectively managing PD with safinamide, ultimately enhancing patient care in Portugal.delphidyskinesiaefficacyfluctuationsmotor symptomsnonmotor symptomsparkinson’s diseaseportugalsafetysafinamide
spellingShingle Ana Margarida Rodrigues
Cristina Costa
Miguel Gago
Miguel Grunho
Leonor Correia Guedes
Ana Morgadinho
Maria Jose Rosas
Rita Simoes
Ana Graca Velon
Expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in Portugal: insights from a Portuguese Delphi Consensus
Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research
delphi
dyskinesia
efficacy
fluctuations
motor symptoms
nonmotor symptoms
parkinson’s disease
portugal
safety
safinamide
title Expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in Portugal: insights from a Portuguese Delphi Consensus
title_full Expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in Portugal: insights from a Portuguese Delphi Consensus
title_fullStr Expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in Portugal: insights from a Portuguese Delphi Consensus
title_full_unstemmed Expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in Portugal: insights from a Portuguese Delphi Consensus
title_short Expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in Portugal: insights from a Portuguese Delphi Consensus
title_sort expert perspectives on the use of safinamide for parkinson s disease in portugal insights from a portuguese delphi consensus
topic delphi
dyskinesia
efficacy
fluctuations
motor symptoms
nonmotor symptoms
parkinson’s disease
portugal
safety
safinamide
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