Communication Self-Efficacy for People With Parkinson's Disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Psychology

Background:

• Self-efficacy for communication, a concept from social cognitive theory, is crucial in communication disability research.
• Its impact on communicative participation in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if communication self-efficacy in PwPD differs across activities.
• To determine if self-efficacy changes over time and after speech therapy.
• To assess the association between self-efficacy and communicative participation.

Main Methods:

• Collected self-reported data on communication self-efficacy and participation from 40 PwPD.
• Participants were community-dwelling, with half receiving speech therapy and half not.
• Data were collected twice, 6 months apart.

Main Results:

• Communication self-efficacy was higher in familiar settings (e.g., with friends) and lower in demanding situations (e.g., large groups).
• No difference in self-efficacy between those who received speech therapy and those who did not.
• Self-efficacy remained stable with therapy but declined significantly without it; it was linked to communicative participation.

Conclusions:

• Communication self-efficacy varies across different communication contexts for PwPD.
• PwPD may experience declining self-efficacy without communication intervention or support.
• Addressing communication self-efficacy is vital for managing PD and enhancing participation.