Process of Seeking Positive Life of Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Park, Young Rye

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to help understand the life and illness-experiences of focusing on a positive lifestyle, patients with Parkinson's disease, METHOD: The present study adopted a ethno graphic methodology. The participants for this study were 4 men and 3 women, who were treated for Parkinson's disease. Data was collected by an interview and participant observations from August 2003 to September 2004. Tape-recorded interviews were transcribed after the interview and classified and described to realistic tale. RESULT: Patients with Parkinson's disease experienced the stage of retake-off pursuing positive life by overcoming the acceptance process of illness including the stage of recognition of change, the stage of disruption and the stage of acceptance. The factors of positive life of Patients with Parkinson's disease were their strong will and social support. CONCLUSION: This study may be used in future studies as an important resource to develop nursing intervention strategies and programs for patients with Parkinson's disease that can help the patients to achieve strong willingness and positive life in Korea.