Aim: This study explores the primary concerns and perceptions of patients living with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Method: This was an exploratory qualitative study. A purposive sample of 17 patients with PD who were attending a hospital outpatients' neurology clinic in Iran were recruited. Study data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed using the conventional qualitative content analysis approach.
Findings: We identified the 'fear of becoming disabled' as a primary concern in these patients. This concern affected the physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of their lives. The 'fear of becoming disabled' fell into four categories, including progressive physical disability, mental alteration, decreasing social connectedness, and self-change.
Conclusion: The study results showed that older adults with PD face a number of challenges in self-care. In addition, the 'fear of becoming disabled' was the main concern of patients with PD, particularly in late stages of the disease.
Keywords: Iran; Parkinson's disease; content analysis; family caregiver; qualitative study.