I’m Losing the ‘Me’: Partners’ Experiences of Engagement with Parkinson's Health Professionals
Document Type
Journal Article
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
School
School of Psychology
RAS ID
21613
Abstract
Background: Partners of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) have first-hand knowledge relevant to the management of the person with Parkinson's (PwP). If captured, this knowledge may improve effective care for the PwP. However, there is a lack of research focusing primarily on partners’ experiences of engagement with health professionals working in PD (HPPs). Methods: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to investigate the meaning of partners’ experiences of engagement with HPPs. Semi-structured interviews with 15 partners of PwP provided primary data. Each interview was digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed for emerging themes. Results: Three themes emerged: (i) partners’ lack of entitlement for their own needs to be met; (ii) submersion of self in the partnership and (iii) health professionals as agents of support. Additionally, sub-themes were identified, such as barriers to feeling entitled, setting up a premise for entitlement, and lost identity. Together, these themes highlight the current lack of focus on the partners of PwP. A process model was developed to describe partners’ cyclic progression through the various stages of their experience, and in the process, identifying initiatives for intervention. Conclusion: Given a lack of focus on the needs of partners of PwP, these preliminary insights could inform the delivery of improved services that support partners. This will ultimately benefit the PwP.
DOI
10.1017/BrImp.2015.19
Access Rights
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Comments
Bolland, M., Guilfoyle, A., Bucks, R.S. (2015). I’m Losing the ‘Me’: Partners’ Experiences of Engagement with Parkinson's Health Professionals in Brain Impairment, 16(2), 116-130. Available here.