Bridging the Gaps in Patient Education for DBS Surgery in Parkinson’s Disease

Table 3

A comparison of pre- and postoperative patient expectations from DBS surgery. Expectations listed under “A” are deemed realistic expectations with good chances for improvement following DBS surgery. Reducing PD medications (“B”) following DBS surgery is a realistic expectation depending on the target for electrode placement. Symptoms listed under “C” may or may not improve following DBS surgery.


Feature		Preop. expectation documented = 14 % (SE)	Desired expectation for having DBS = 29 % (SE)	Expectation met = 28 % (SE)	Expectation somewhat met = 28 % (SE)	Expectation not met = 28 % (SE)

A	Tremor	35 (9.0)	75 (8.3)	79 (7.7)	3.4 (3.4)	—
	Rigidity	10 (5.8)	8.8 (7.4)	10 (5.8)	—	3.4 (3.4)
	Slowness	—	7.1 (5.0)	3.4 (3.4)	3.4 (3.4)	—
	On-time	21 (7.7)	21 (7.9)	17 (7.1)	3.4 (3.4)	—
	Dyskinesias	17 (7.1)	18 (7.4)	21 (7.7)	3.4 (3.4)	—
	Dystonia	3.4 (3.4)	7.1 (5.0)	3.4 (3.4)	3.4 (3.4)	—

B	Reduce medications	31 (8.7)	21 (7.9)	14 (6.5)	3.4 (3.4)	3.4 (3.4)

C	Sleep	10 (5.8)	3.6 (3.6)	3.4 (3.4)	—	—
	Freezing of gait	6.9 (4.8)	3.6 (3.6)	—	—	—
	Speech	—	3.6 (3.6)	—	—	3.4 (3.4)
	Balance	3.4 (3.4)	3.6 (3.6)	—	—	3.4 (3.4)
	Walking	6.9 (4.8)	14 (6.7)	6.9 (4.8)	—	10 (5.8)
	Writing	—	11 (6.0)	14 (6.5)	—	—
	QoL	—	21 (7.9)	17 (7.1)	—	3.4 (3.4)
	Reduce pain	—	7.1 (5.0)	—	3.4 (3.4)	3.4 (3.4)
	Eat w/utensils	—	3.6 (3.6)	6.9 (4.8)	—	—
	Use tools	—	—	—	3.4 (3.4)	—
	Improve PD	—	11 (6.0)	6.9 (4.8)	3.4 (3.4)	—
	Ride bike	—	3.6 (3.6)	3.4 (3.4)	—	—
	Use of arm	—	3.6 (3.6)	3.4 (3.4)	—	—
	Normal life	—	3.6 (3.6)	3.4 (3.4)	—	—
	Other	24 (8.1)	3.6 (3.6)	3.4 (3.4)	—	—