Exploring the Life Experiences of Bell’s Palsy Patients: A Qualitative Study

Objective: Bell’s palsy is the most common type of peripheral facial paralysis. The sudden onset and unknown cause of Bell’s palsy lead to significant psychological distress and social disabilities in patients, which can severely impact their quality of life. This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with Bell’s palsy using a qualitative approach to gain a better understanding of the outcomes from the patient’s perspectives. Material and Methods: This study was conducted as a qualitative research employing a hermeneutic phenomenological framework. Inductive thematic analysis was used for data analysis Results: The study included a total of 11 participants (six females and five males) from different phases of Bell’s palsy. Because of the inductive thematic analysis, the experiences of patients with Bell’s palsy were categorised into six main themes: “First Confrontation with Bell’s Palsy,” “Treatment and Self-Management Experiences”, “Physical Challenges Experienced”, “Psychological Effects”, “Social Effects”, and “Impact of Bell’s Palsy on Today” Conclusion: Bell’s palsy is understood to be a traumatic experience that affects the physiological, psycho logical, and social aspects of patients’ lives, thereby significantly impacting their quality of life. Although patients receive medical treatment for Bell’s palsy, they often face the physiological and psychological challenges alone. Therefore, treatment should not be solely prescription-based; it must address the physiological, psychological, and social challenges through an interdisciplinary approach, including the involvement of nurses.