Self-management program participation and social support in Parkinson's disease: Mixed methods evaluation

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Neurology

Background:

• Parkinson disease (PD) significantly impacts patients' quality of life and social interactions.
• Social support is crucial for effective self-management in chronic conditions like PD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) on social support among individuals with Parkinson disease (PD).

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental mixed-methods design was employed.
• Participants included 27 PD patients and 6 care partners who completed the CDSMP, alongside 19 PD patients in a control group.
• Data collection involved questionnaires on social support and self-management, and interviews exploring social support experiences.

Main Results:

• Quantitative analysis revealed no significant changes in social support scores post-CDSMP.
• Positive correlations were observed between changes in social support and self-management outcomes.
• Qualitative themes indicated a lack of perceived change in social support quantity/quality, but highlighted positive impacts on social networks and community belonging.

Conclusions:

• While not significantly altering overall social support, the CDSMP offered benefits to PD patients and care partners.
• The program fostered a supportive community, positively influencing existing social networks.
• Further research is warranted to explore social support dynamics in PD self-management.