TY - JOUR
T1 - How parkinsonism influences life
T2 - The patients' point of view
AU - Martignoni, E.
AU - Citterio, Antonietta
AU - Zangaglia, R.
AU - Godi, L.
AU - Pacchetti, C.
AU - Fundarò, C.
AU - Corengia, E.
AU - Bono, G.
AU - Nappi, G.
PY - 2011/2
Y1 - 2011/2
N2 - To explore the experience of living with parkinsonism, a survey form was sent to the members of a patients' association; 1,256 forms were analysed. The mean age was 65.75 ± 9.29 years; 64.4% males. A family history was reported by 19.2%. Basic abilities were preserved in 75% of the responders; the ability to do indoor and outdoor activities was preserved in 42 and 28%, respectively. 70% of the responders liked to meet other people and about 50% liked discussing their condition. 80.3% of the responders lived with partner, while 7.8% did not live with family. Of the patients' partners, 38.9% took drugs, and 9.4% themselves needed assistance. Care programmes for parkinsonians should take into account the disease duration, the degree of disability, the presence of caregiver/s, and the level of caregiver burden; but it should also be appreciated that social habits, need of help, and severity of symptoms influence disability.
AB - To explore the experience of living with parkinsonism, a survey form was sent to the members of a patients' association; 1,256 forms were analysed. The mean age was 65.75 ± 9.29 years; 64.4% males. A family history was reported by 19.2%. Basic abilities were preserved in 75% of the responders; the ability to do indoor and outdoor activities was preserved in 42 and 28%, respectively. 70% of the responders liked to meet other people and about 50% liked discussing their condition. 80.3% of the responders lived with partner, while 7.8% did not live with family. Of the patients' partners, 38.9% took drugs, and 9.4% themselves needed assistance. Care programmes for parkinsonians should take into account the disease duration, the degree of disability, the presence of caregiver/s, and the level of caregiver burden; but it should also be appreciated that social habits, need of help, and severity of symptoms influence disability.
KW - Familiarity
KW - Parkinsonism
KW - Quality of life
KW - Social habits
KW - Unmet needs
KW - Work
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79551579940&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79551579940&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10072-010-0435-x
DO - 10.1007/s10072-010-0435-x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21057842
AN - SCOPUS:79551579940
VL - 32
SP - 125
EP - 131
JO - Neurological Sciences
JF - Neurological Sciences
SN - 1590-1874
IS - 1
ER -