BACKGROUND
Patients with Parkinson’s disease experience changes in physical, psychological, and social functioning, among which the psychological aspect is most likely to cause fatigue and depressive symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate whether fatigue and depressive symptoms, and other demographic variables can predict the quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
METHODS
The study design was a cross-sectional correlational study using a questionnaire survey to interview 133 study participants on the Quality of Life Scale, Depression Scale, Exhaustion Scale, Social Support, and demographic attributes.
RESULTS
A total of 130 valid questionnaires were obtained. The results showed that Hoehn and Yahr's stage, fatigue severity, and depression status could predict quality of life, explaining 51.1% of the total variance. This indicates that patients with higher Hoehn and Yahr's stage, higher fatigue severity, and higher depression level had worse overall quality of life; conversely, their overall quality of life was worse.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that besides Hoehn and Yahr’s stage, fatigue severity and depression level affect the quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Nurses need to understand the “stressful life events” and the changes in appearance and physical function that patients with Parkinson’s disease face due to chronic degenerative diseases. Therefore, in addition to caring for the physiological needs of patients, psychological problems (such as depressive symptoms) should also be provided with appropriate care, and patients can be encouraged to participate in “counseling groups” to strengthen their social support network and improve their comorbidities and quality of life.