Exploring the Relational Communication Effects of Parkinson’s Disease with Caregiving Partners
Document Type
Poster Presentation
Keywords
Parkinson’s Disease, partners, communication
Biography
The objective of my research is to analyze the partner patient relationship as the disease worsens by conducting interviews of partners with PD. These interviews will present common themes that look at the couple dynamic between the patient and partner, and how the disease changed the relationship over time.
Major
Communication Studies
Advisor for this project
Camilla Brammer
Abstract
The purpose of this research is to look at the communication strategies and struggles of patients living with PD and their families.
This research is useful to family members of patients with PD that are struggling or preparing for the changes that come with the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. Family education is needed to contextualize patient symptoms and to identify psychosocial support resources.
From these interviews, the data collected will present common themes that arose from the data transcribed. The questions asked will allow the collected data to present the role the spouse held before and after the PD diagnosis and how this changed over time. The power dynamic between the couple, and how the dynamic shifted, if at all as the diagnosis progressed. As well as the overall feelings the partner feels as both caregiver and partner, and the effects this has on the relationship.
The participants of the study will be caregiving partners of people with PD; these participants will be recruited through the Facebook group called “Caregivers of Parkinson’s Disease Support Group.” A message will be posted on the group asking partners of those with advanced Parkinson’s to consider volunteering to be interviewed about their experiences communicating with the loved one.
Participants interviewed will be a partner of a patient with advanced PD. The number of participants for this study will be 5-8; this sample will allow analysis of different perspectives on the way that partner roles change over time with the diagnoses with PD. Participants will be asked to provide data on their sex, race, age, region, and other relevant demographic data on the questionnaire this will allow us to see if they qualify for the study. If they do, they will receive the questions before the teams interview to prepare.
After indicating their interest in participating in this study, participants will orally consent on teams in advance of the interview. Interviews will be conducted virtually with partners of patients with PD. Participants will be asked 7 open-ended questions about their role as a partner of someone with PD, as well as how the role of the caregiver shifted as the disease progressed. Interviews will be conducted and recorded via Microsoft Teams, which will transcribe the meeting. Interviews will likely range from 45-60 minutes.
Exploring the Relational Communication Effects of Parkinson’s Disease with Caregiving Partners
The purpose of this research is to look at the communication strategies and struggles of patients living with PD and their families.
This research is useful to family members of patients with PD that are struggling or preparing for the changes that come with the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. Family education is needed to contextualize patient symptoms and to identify psychosocial support resources.
From these interviews, the data collected will present common themes that arose from the data transcribed. The questions asked will allow the collected data to present the role the spouse held before and after the PD diagnosis and how this changed over time. The power dynamic between the couple, and how the dynamic shifted, if at all as the diagnosis progressed. As well as the overall feelings the partner feels as both caregiver and partner, and the effects this has on the relationship.
The participants of the study will be caregiving partners of people with PD; these participants will be recruited through the Facebook group called “Caregivers of Parkinson’s Disease Support Group.” A message will be posted on the group asking partners of those with advanced Parkinson’s to consider volunteering to be interviewed about their experiences communicating with the loved one.
Participants interviewed will be a partner of a patient with advanced PD. The number of participants for this study will be 5-8; this sample will allow analysis of different perspectives on the way that partner roles change over time with the diagnoses with PD. Participants will be asked to provide data on their sex, race, age, region, and other relevant demographic data on the questionnaire this will allow us to see if they qualify for the study. If they do, they will receive the questions before the teams interview to prepare.
After indicating their interest in participating in this study, participants will orally consent on teams in advance of the interview. Interviews will be conducted virtually with partners of patients with PD. Participants will be asked 7 open-ended questions about their role as a partner of someone with PD, as well as how the role of the caregiver shifted as the disease progressed. Interviews will be conducted and recorded via Microsoft Teams, which will transcribe the meeting. Interviews will likely range from 45-60 minutes.
