Exploring Body Image in Parkinson's Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring Body Image in Parkinson's Disease: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study
IRAS ID
198977
Contact name
Claire Pollock
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 0 days
Research summary
The aim of the research is to explore the lived experience of body image in individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) using semi-structured interviews to gather data. At present there is lack of research in this area although the student's clinical experience as a Parkinson's Disease Nurse Specialist would suggest it is important to individuals living with PD as multiple issues with altered body image have been highlighted by patients themselves. This suggests that there is a current gap in the literature.
Research exploring body image indicates that altered body image can result in depression, anxiety and poor self esteem (Lamarche et al, 2012). Registered nurses have a duty to provide a high standard of care at all times and ensure that psychological as well as physical and social needs of individuals are addressed and responded to (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2015), this would suggest that the issue of body image in PD requires exploration.
Data collection using interviews will take place at a single NHS hospital site. Participants will be identified from individuals attending a specialist PD out-patient clinic over a period of two months. Only participants with a diagnosis of Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease, who can speak and read English fluently and whom have expressed experience of relevance to the subject of interest will be invited to take part in the study. Those individuals with significant speech difficulties, mental health problems including dementia, depression and impulse control disorder and/or other conditions resulting in visible disfigurement will be excluded.
Potential participants who meet the necessary criteria will be invited to participate in a face to face interview lasting approximately one hour. Data will subsequently be analysed using Colaizzi's framework (Sanders, 2003) as a guide.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0220
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion