Specifics of nursing care for patients with Parkinson's disease

Theoretical part: In the theoretical part I describe diagnostics, symptoms, causes and treatment of Parkinson's disease. I deal with care for patients with Parkinson's disease and different specifics of this disease that are connected with it. It is mentioned home care for these patients, too. Research questions and objectives: In the practical part I focus on specifics of home care for patients with this disease. In order to achieve these objectives, the following research questions framed this study: There have been set two research questions in this bachelor thesis: 1. What do nurses think about home care for patients with Parkinson's disease? 2. What do patients suffering from this disease think about home care? Methodology: It is elaborated by a qualitative method survey. The data were collected by means of an interview with nurses and patients. The interview consisted of 16 questions for nurses and 17 questions for patients. The individual answers from nurses and patients were written down word for word and analysed. I asked three home care agencies for their help with my survey but two of them weren't able to help me due to lack of patients with Parkinson's disease. 5 patients were asked for interview, but one of them didn't agree with it and the next one wasn't able to be interviewed due to dementia. Patients and nurses were interviewed in a home care agency or at their homes in Vysočina region. Findings: Survey results were divided into 6 categories and 1 subcategory. The category called "Nurse Education" was extended of a subcategory "Self-education of nurses". The interviews with patients were divided into 5 categories and 1 subcategory. The category called "Nurse and patients" was extended of a subcategory "Nursing errors". The results showed that the nurses emphasized the importance of nurse kindness, understanding, rehabilitation and communication skills with patients and their families. According to the survey the patient-centred care approach is very important. This approach focuses on people's individual needs. It is showed that nurses are well educated in this issue and that patients have positive experience of nursing care. Patients appreciate nurses treating. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the home car is very important for patient peace of mind. On the one hand nurses emphasized the importance of rehabilitation, communication skills and familiarity with this disease but on the other hand nobody mentioned the importance of taking medications correctly before meals and prevention of constipation. The results of this bachelor thesis will be used as a feedback for nurses working with patients suffering from Parkinson's disease and it can be used for medical students, too