Quality of the Support Network and Family Functionality in patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Background: An inadequate support network and dysfunctional family functionality can be associated with a greater complication of your disease, as well as higher costs of care. These two elements play a decisive role in the clinical evolution of the patient with Parkinson’s disease. Objective: To evaluate the quality of the Support Network and Family Functionality in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Methods: Non-experimental, cross-sectional, analytical and prospective study. The inclusion criteria were valid beneficiaries, with diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, it was carried out during the period from January to June 2022. To evaluate the Support Network the Gijon Scale was used and for Family Functionality the FF-SIL Test. For the statistical analysis we used descriptive statistics with measures of central tendency and dispersion, in the inferential analysis Fisher’s Exact Test and odds ratio were used. Results: Twenty-seven people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease were evaluated. 21 participants (77.8%) had a moderately functional family, four with a dysfunctional family (14.8%) and two (7.4%) with a functional family. On the other hand, in the Gijon Scale we find the following: 15 patients (55.6%) with good/acceptable social situation and 12(44.4%) with social risk. When making an association between these variables, we found statistical significance with the absence of a partner (p 0.04), income of 1-2 minimum wages (p 0.001) and low socioeconomic level (p 0.02). Conclusions: Although there is no statistical association between the support networks with respect to family function, both aspects influence the environment and care of the patient with Parkinson’s. In turn, it is necessary to evaluate other interesting variables such as the presence of a partner, income and socioeconomic level.