Unmet Needs of Patients With Parkinson’s Disease and Their Caregivers During the Discharge Transition: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Nursing, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China; School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- 2Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China; Correspondence to: Dongxiang Zheng, Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, No. 613, Huangpu Avenue West, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China.
- 3Department of Nursing, Guangdong Sanjiu Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China
- 4School of Nursing, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the care needs of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their caregivers during the hospital-to-home transition, framed by transition theory, to provide an empirical basis for developing a comprehensive transitional care program. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted between July and August 2025. We performed semistructured interviews with 12 patient–caregiver dyads selected via purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Transition theory of Meleis served as a theoretical lens to guide the refinement, organization, and interpretation of the themes. Results: Four core themes of unmet needs were identified: (1) the need for practical knowledge and skills for disease self-management; (2) continuity of care to bridge the hospital–community gap; (3) psychological support for both patients and caregivers to cope with role changes; and (4) access to social and financial resources. These themes collectively reveal a significant gap between existing discharge support and the actual needs of families. Conclusion: The transition from hospital to home for patients with PD is a complex process that is further complicated by limited self-management capacity and fragmented healthcare services. To achieve a successful transition, care must extend beyond standard discharge instructions to an integrated “hospital–community–family” model. Such an integrated model is essential for reducing hospital readmissions, alleviating caregiver burden, and ultimately improving the long-term quality of life of individuals with PD.
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BibTeX
@article{zhao2026unmet,
title = {{Unmet Needs of Patients With Parkinson’s Disease and Their Caregivers During the Discharge Transition: A Qualitative Descriptive Study}},
author = {Kai Zhao and Dongxiang Zheng and Yan Li and Lu Sun and Guanrong Guo and Linjiao Li and Xuelun Guo and Danlei Wang},
journal = {Asian Nursing Research},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.anr.2026.05.002},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2026.05.002},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Unmet Needs of Patients With Parkinson’s Disease and Their Caregivers During the Discharge Transition: A Qualitative Descriptive Study
AU - Kai Zhao
AU - Dongxiang Zheng
AU - Yan Li
AU - Lu Sun
AU - Guanrong Guo
AU - Linjiao Li
AU - Xuelun Guo
AU - Danlei Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Asian Nursing Research
DO - 10.1016/j.anr.2026.05.002
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anr.2026.05.002
AB - Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the care needs of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their caregivers during the hospital-to-home transition, framed by transition theory, to provide an empirical basis for developing a comprehensive transitional care program. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted between July and August 2025. We performed semistructured interviews with 12 patient–caregiver dyads selected via purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Transition theory of Meleis served as a theoretical lens to guide the refinement, organization, and interpretation of the themes. Results: Four core themes of unmet needs were identified: (1) the need for practical knowledge and skills for disease self-management; (2) continuity of care to bridge the hospital–community gap; (3) psychological support for both patients and caregivers to cope with role changes; and (4) access to social and financial resources. These themes collectively reveal a significant gap between existing discharge support and the actual needs of families. Conclusion: The transition from hospital to home for patients with PD is a complex process that is further complicated by limited self-management capacity and fragmented healthcare services. To achieve a successful transition, care must extend beyond standard discharge instructions to an integrated “hospital–community–family” model. Such an integrated model is essential for reducing hospital readmissions, alleviating caregiver burden, and ultimately improving the long-term quality of life of individuals with PD.
SN - 1976-1317
ER -