Keywords

chronic illness, ethnography, Parkinson's disease, movement disorders

 

Authors

  1. Hermanns, Melinda

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD), a movement disorder related to dopamine insufficiency in the brain, affects 7 to 10 million people worldwide. Research has focused on etiology and treatment, while research on how patients deal with PD is limited. This ethnographic study explored the illness experience of 14 participants living with PD. The metaphor, "Sailing the Seas in the Eye of the Storm" depicts their experience. Content themes "Daily Negotiations in the Midst of Uncertainty" (the storm) and "Reconstruction of the Self" (the traveler's voyage) suggest aspects of holistic care for PD patients.