The psychosocial dimension of Parkinson’s: A phenomenological study on patient experiences

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychosocial dimension of Parkinson’s disease and the life experiences of patients with a phenomenological approach. Methods: In this phenomenological study, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 Parkinson’s patients who applied to the neurology outpatient clinic of a state hospital in a province in southern Turkey. Criterion sampling method, one of the purposive sampling methods, was used to reach the sample group. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. All interviews were recorded on a voice recorder after obtaining the necessary permissions from the patients and then transcribed. The data of the study were evaluated using thematic analysis. The study was conducted and reported according to the COREQ checklist. Results: Data analysis revealed three main themes (metaphors for Parkinson's disease, effects of Parkinson's disease, symptom management and psychosocial needs in Parkinson's disease) and eight sub-themes (metaphors for physical effects, metaphors for mental effects, metaphors for social effects, mental, physical, social, symptom management and psychosocial needs). Conclusions: As a result of this study, it was determined that Parkinson's disease negatively affects patients psychosocially and they have difficulty in coping. It is recommended to implement research and application centers for Parkinson's patients with a focus on psychosocial support and to carry out awareness and awareness-raising studies on Parkinson's disease. Studies on this subject are very limited and it is recommended that large-scale studies on psychosocial problems in individuals with Parkinson's disease be conducted in the future.