Effect of Disability and Self-care Agency on Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of disability and self-care agency of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) on activities of daily living (ADL). Materials and Methods: The study sample comprised 81 individuals with PD meeting the inclusion criteria. The data to evaluate ADL were collected using a Patient Information Form, the Brief Disability Questionnaire (BDQ), Self-care Agency Scale, and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). Results: Severe disability was determined in 48.1% of the patients. Patients who were in stages 3 and 4 of PD according to the Hoehn and Yahr Staging Scale and who also had another chronic disease-in particular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-were found to have significantly higher UPDRS scores than those who did not. It was determined that age, ability to meet personal care, and the presence of a carer caused a significant difference in disability, self-care agency, and the level of ADL (P < 0.05). The study identified a negative and moderately significant correlation between patients' disability and self-care agency, a positive and highly significant correlation between disability and ADL, and a positive and moderately significant correlation between self-care agency and ADL (P < 0.00). Conclusion: The development of disabilities in individuals with PD negatively affects their ADL and self-care power.