Indian Journal of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy - An International Journal

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a slowly progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement. Those patients with PD are confronted with physical, psychological, and psychosocial issues that impact quality of life (QoL).

To assess the health related QoL among PD patients attending the Institute of Neurology National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL). The main domains assessed were mobility, activities of daily living, emotional wellbeing, stigma, social support, cognitive impairment, communication and bodily discomfort.

This descriptive study was conducted with 96 PD patients who are attending the PD clinic of the Institute of Neurology NHSL. The Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ 39) was used as the study instrument.

In PD patients, their ability to engage in leisure activities, household work, walking and getting around in public are the highest affected. (Mobility domain: Mean = 52.76). Secondly affected domain is the communication. (Mean = 50.00) which includes speech and communication skills. The activities of daily living are also affected with highest impact on the skills of writing and cutting up food. Stigma and cognition are moderately affected. The least affected domain is the social support (mean = 25.17) which indicates the support from spouse and family.

Mobility and communication have the highest negative impact on QOL in PD patients. Level of depression has negatively affected on emotional wellbeing. PD patients do not lack family and social support much.