Learning Objective #1: Understand Parkinson's disease, and how it affects the Quality of Life (QoL) of patients

Learning Objective #2: Understand how the QoL would be improved by implementing DBS treatment, and increasing 40% on average

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Parkinson's disease, or Idiopathic Parkinsonism is a common neurological condition producing the classic symptoms of bradykinesia, rigidity, rest tremor, and postural instability that is typically relentlessly progressive, resulting in significant disability will effect the Quality of Life (QoL) of patients seriously. Quality of life has been conceptualized in evaluation of patient's health states and a valid questionnaire for measuring the QoL can assist the decision of disease management and policy making. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) was recently introduced to reduce symptoms and improve functions. The object of this study is to compare the QoL of patients with Parkinson's disease between before and after implementing DBS treatment. This study was a cross-sectional, quasi-experimental, and retrospective design. The researchers collected 19 non-demented patients (age range 40-67 years) with Parkinson's disease that had been implemented Deep Brain Stimulation treatment in the Eastern Taiwan and QoL was measured by WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version questionnaire to collect survey data structurally (Yao, 1997; WHO, 1995). A pre-test and post-test (after 3 months) was conducted. The reliability were counted on Cronbach's Alpha is 0.87 to 0.92.The researchers discovered that Parkinson's disease can influence the QoL of the majority of patients including physical, psychological and social domains and those would be improved the QoL by implementing DBS treatment and increasing 40% averagely, in particular improving motor activity, pain relief, increasing concentration and feeling safety of environment. The findings give some useful indications for DBS treatment and provide information about the QoL of patients with Parkinson's disease for nursing care. We suggest that evaluate the QoL of patients with Parkinson's disease after implementing DBS treatment 2 years later continuously and combine with phenomenology of study design to ensure the best possible outcome.