It is important for patients to understand their illness because an informed and enlightened patient is better able to make informed decisions about their health. Here are some reasons why this is so important:

• Better treatment collaboration: When a patient understands their illness, they are more willing to actively collaborate with the doctor and follow recommended treatment plans. This can improve the effectiveness of treatment and speed up recovery.
  
• Informed Consent: An informed patient is able to make informed decisions about medical interventions, treatments, and medications. The concept of informed consent means that the patient understands the risks, benefits and alternatives of a particular treatment and can give consent on that basis.
• Self-responsibility for health: When patients understand their illness, they can take a more active part in caring for their own health. For example, they can adjust their lifestyle to slow the progression of the disease or reduce the risk of complications.
• Reducing Anxiety and Uncertainty: An illness can cause anxiety and insecurity. By understanding the disease and its effects, patients can better manage their fears and develop a sense of control over their situation.
  
• Improved communication with the doctor: When a patient is informed about their illness, they can ask more specific questions and communicate more effectively with the doctor. This allows for better collaboration and clear understanding of treatment options.
  

A very significant contribution on the way to the informed patient makes the Parkinson Foundation with their online academy. The numerous webcasts provide information on almost every aspect of the disease, come from experts and are accessible to everyone. In order to make this valuable content accessible to as large a group of people as possible, in the future we will not only refer to the extensive archive in the Parkinson Journal, but will also announce each new contribution to the online academy separately on our homepage.