Improvement Process of Unconvincing Outcomes in Patients with Parkinson's Disease Following Deep Brain Stimulation: Analysis of Interview Results using a Modified Grounded Theory Approach (M-GTA)

Background & Aims: To obtain a better guide for the nursing care of patients with Parkinson's disease undergoing long-term care by describing the improvement of unconvincing results after deep brain stimulation (DBS).Methods: Using a modified grounded theory approach, semi-structured interviews were performed with 11 patients (aged 50-80 years) who had undergone 5-14 years of DBS before this study.Results: The improvement process of unconvincing outcomes in patients with Parkinson's disease following DBS starts with the patients' attempts to share the unconvincing outcomes, followed by repeating the cycle of ambiguity in unconvincing outcomes and becoming saddled with them under maintainable support, and ends in achieving realization of the improvement plan.Conclusions: Patients could hide their unconvincing outcomes from the other patients while struggling for a long time, and they stated that they tried to cope with unconvincing outcomes by reconsidering the meaning of DBS. Its course differs for each person. These findings may be helpful in improving long-term care, enhancing patient satisfaction and quality of life, and in educating patients considering post-DBS care.