Abstract
Objective：The aim of this study was to identify the coping strategies and methods used by patients with Parkinson’s disease （PD） to prevent falls and secondary disability caused by falls.
Methods：Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six PD patients （Hoehn & Yahr classification stage Ⅰ-Ⅳ）, five of whom had never experienced secondary disability due to falls, as well as with one family member. The interview data were analyzed qualitatively.
Results：In total, 10 categories of coping strategies and methods were identified that PD patients used to prevent falls and secondary disability. There were six categories of behavioral coping strategies and methods: “self-management to maintain good physical condition,” “actions in accordance with wearing off,” “ensuring stability when walking,” “learning how to fall to reduce the impact of a fall,” “learning how to get up on one’s own after a fall,” and “maintaining and strengthening muscles and bones.” Two categories of cognitive coping strategies and methods were “walking with attention to falls” and “noticing and coping with situations where a fall is likely to occur.” Two categories of coping strategies and methods involved social support：“preventing falls during walking by relying on others and getting prompt assistance to get up after a fall” and “having family members help with medication adjustment.”
Conclusions：The PD patients in this study, who had never experienced secondary disability due to falls, were considered to prevent falls and secondary disability arising from their symptoms and decrease the risk of falling through self-management to maintain a good physical condition. This suggests the need to engage medical professionals and establish a support system for PD patients so that they can recognize their own symptoms and risks.
