Perceptions of people living with Parkinson's disease: a qualitative study in Iran.
OBJECTIVE
This study explores the primary concerns and perceptions of patients living with Parkinson's disease (PD).


METHODS
This was an exploratory qualitative study. A purposive sample of 17 patients with PD who were attending a hospital outpatients' neurology clinic in Iran were recruited. Study data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using the conventional qualitative content analysis approach.


RESULTS
We identified the 'fear of becoming disabled' as a primary concern in these patients. This concern affected the physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of their lives. The 'fear of becoming disabled' fell into four categories, including progressive physical disability, mental alteration, decreasing social connectedness, and self-change.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results showed that older adults with PD face a number of challenges in self-care. In addition, the 'fear of becoming disabled' was the main concern of patients with PD, particularly in late stages of the disease.
Assistant Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Mohammad Ali
MA
Soleimani
Professor, Department of Geriatrics Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Farideh
F
Bastani
Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Reza
R
Negarandeh
Assistant Professor, UCSF Division of Hospital Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Ryan
R
Greysen
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological
Iran; Parkinson's disease; content analysis; family caregiver; qualitative study