PERCEPTION OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE PATIENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR COMPREHENSIVE CARE
Parkinson'sDisease; Disease Experience; Comprehensive Care.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by the manifestation of motor symptoms, the main ones being: bradykinesia, muscle rigidity and resting tremor; it can also present non-motor symptoms, such as: depression, pain, sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment. These symptoms can have a psychosocial impact on the lives of patients with PD. Given this scenario, this work aims to understand the perception of patients with Parkinson's Disease about their disease process and treatment, seeking to promote strategies to improve comprehensive care. This is a qualitative, descriptive and analytical research based on the Phenomenological Method. The survey data were collected through individual interviews from the semi-structured interview script McGill MINI – Narrative of illness. Seven patients aged between 48 and 73 years old, attended at the Movement Disorder Clinic of the Onofre Lopes University Hospital, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, participated in the research. From the obtained reports, three thematic nuclei emerged that concern the patient in face of his/her diagnosis, living with the signs and symptoms of the disease and its treatment, and the psychosocial impact of the disease and health care. Patients report psychological suffering with an impact on their daily lives and on their social and work relationships, which, in general, can harm their relationship with the illness itself. These reports reflect on the importance of integrated teamwork with a focus on health care and meeting the patient's needs.