Exploring Post-traumatic Growth in Parkinson's Disease: A Mixed Method Study

The Quality in Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis

BACKGROUND

Quality of life (QoL) is known to be impaired in people with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Not surprisingly, a considerable effort of health interventions is aimed at maintaining or improving QoL. Yet, little is known about its determinants from a PwPD perspective to inform person-centered health care interventions.

OBJECTIVES

This systematic review aims to overcome this information gap by synthesizing existing evidence on factors associated with PwPD' self-perceived QoL.

METHODS

We searched six electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) from inception to January 2022 for eligible qualitative studies of QoL in PwPD, supplemented by citation tracking and hand searching. Study quality was assessed using the QualSyst tool. In order to characterize the determinants of QoL in PwPD, we conducted a qualitative meta-synthesis.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed a wide range of facilitators and barriers to QoL relating to seven overarching themes: Illness experience, health care, everyday life, social life, identity, spirituality/religion, and environment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review reinforces the impact of symptom experience on PwPD's QoL. However, it also highlights the need to consider the non-physical dimensions of PD when assessing patients' QoL. It is therefore essential that health care professionals acknowledge the psychological, social and spiritual repercussions of PD and endeavor to respond to these concerns through a comprehensive and patient-centered strategy. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of these facets of PD and to formulate successful interventions aimed at improving the QoL of PwPD.

Post-traumatic growth and trauma-informed care in vocational rehabilitation through the lens of the conservation of resources theory

BACKGROUND

Trauma has high prevalent rates in populations of people with disabilities, and the effects of traumatic experiences can negatively impact employment.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to review the existing literature regarding post-traumatic growth (PTG), trauma informed care (TIC), and the conservation of resources (COR) theory.

METHOD

We begin with an overview of PTG, TIC, and trauma in relation to disability and employment. Then, we review the personal, condition, object, and energy resources within the COR theory.

RESULTS

The remainder of the article focuses on applying PTG and TIC in State-Federal VR programs with a theoretical framework defined by COR. We conceptualize the application in four major VR phases: (a) eligibility determination, (b) rehabilitation plan development, (c) service provision, and (d) job placement.

CONCLUSION

By implementing TIC and considering the consumer's resources, VR counselors can help emphasize PTG throughout the process and prioritize PTG as the ultimate goal. The authors provide brief and preliminary implementation recommendations for VR counselors.

The mediating role of psychological capital between post-traumatic growth and uncertainty in illness among patients with Parkinson's disease

With the application of positive psychology in health management, many studies have confirmed the close relationship between post-traumatic growth, psychological capital and uncertainty in illness. However, there is still a lack of attention to the positive psychology of patients with Parkinson's disease, and previous studies have not clarify the specific relationship. Therefore, the present study sought to explore the multiple mediating roles of psychological capital between post-traumatic growth and uncertainty in illness among patients with Parkinson's disease. We conducted a cross-sectional survey, a total of 268 patients with Parkinson's disease were investigated by the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, the Positive Psychological Capital Questionnaire and the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale - Adults from November 2021 to June 2022 in the Parkinson's specialist outpatient department of three 3a-grade hospitals in Tianjin, China. The results showed that the score of post-traumatic growth was (51.78±17.872), the score of uncertainty in illness was (68.08±17.555), and the score of self-efficacy, resilience, hope, and optimism dimensions of psychological capital were (28.93±10.511), (28.79±11.553), (27.57±8.558) and (25.35±9.768). Post-traumatic growth was negatively correlated with uncertainty in illness and positively correlated with all four dimensions of psychological capital (p < 0.01), and uncertainty in illness was negatively correlated with all four dimensions of psychological capital (p < 0.01). Bootstrap test showed that the direct effect of post-traumatic growth on uncertainty in illness of patients with Parkinson's disease was not significant; the total indirect effect of psychological capital between post-traumatic growth and uncertainty in illness was significant. The mediating effects of resilience and hope were significant, accounting for 53.07% and 19.41% of the total indirect effects, respectively. Based on the research results, psychological capital played a completely mediating role between post-traumatic growth and uncertainty in illness of patients with Parkinson's disease. Post-traumatic growth affected uncertainty in illness through two dimensions: resilience and hope. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the level of psychological capital of patients with Parkinson's disease and implement targeted positive psychological interventions focusing on the two dimensions of resilience and hope, to enhance post-traumatic growth and reduce the level of uncertainty in illness.

Measuring Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease—A Call to Rethink Conceptualizations and Assessments

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic condition that considerably impacts the perception of quality of life (QoL) in both patients and their caregivers. Modern therapeutic approaches and social efforts strive at maintaining and promoting QoL. It has emerged as a fundamental parameter for clinical follow-up and poses one of the most important endpoints in scientific and economic evaluations of new care models. It is therefore of utmost importance to grasp concepts of QoL in a meaningful way. However, when taking a look at the origin of our modern understanding of QoL and existing methods for its measurement in PD patients, some aspects seem to lack sufficient appreciation. This article elaborates on how the perception of health and QoL have changed over time and discuss whether current understandings of both are reflected in the most commonly applied assessment methods for people with PD.