INFLUENCE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE RELATED KNOWLEDGE ON PARKINSON'S PATIENT EMPOWERMENT

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, affects the emotional and physical functions of persons with Parkinson’s (PwP), who tend to lose their sense of empowerment, a cognitive state of perceived competence and perceived control. A diminished sense of empowerment is a result of being dependent and unable to have control over their own lives and health. To increase empowerment in PwP, it is necessary to understand the factors that impact on the empowerment. This study aimed to 1) find the extent of relationship between Parkinson’s disease related knowledge and Parkinson’s patient empowerment, controlling for personality traits and severity of disease and 2) examine Parkinson’s patient perceived acquiring Parkinson’s disease related knowledge level via distribution channel from doctors, websites, caregivers and patient support groups. This cross-sectional survey study with the interviewed questionnaire was performed at PD clinics at King Chulalongkorn Memorial hospital. The study included 128 PwP (47.7% males) with a mean age of 58.3±8.9 years, and a mean disease duration of 8.1 ± 4.8 years. Each participant in the study was asked questions from four sections: 1) Parkinson’s Patient Empowerment, 2) Health Locus of Control, 3) Self-esteem, and 4) PD Knowledge. The results showed Parkinson’s patients perceived acquiring very high Parkinson’s disease related knowledge level via doctors, caregivers, websites and patient support groups, respectively. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated four significant important influencing factors were self-care knowledge (β = 0.15, p <0.05), self-esteem (β = 0.33, p <0.05), internal health locus of control (β = 0.32, p <0.05) and external health locus of control by powerful others (β = 0.18, p <0.05). All variables in the model can explain 38% of variance in Parkinson’s patient empowerment. Based on these findings, after controlling for self-esteem, internal health locus of control, external health locus of control by powerful others, external health locus of control by chance and severity of disease, self-care knowledge still showed statistically significant contribution to Parkinson’s patient empowerment (R2 Change = 0.02, p < 0.05). Thus, the effective intervention to increase Parkinson’s patient empowerment should emphasize providing self-care knowledge.