Parkinson Society BC Study

Parkinson Society British Columbia (PSBC) advocates for improved awareness and treatment options for the Parkinson's community. One element of our advocacy plan is to seek an expansion of the Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) program. DBS is a surgery that may be suitable for a small number of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). The surgery has enabled people to live independently in their own homes for many more years than they would otherwise be able to; however, patients experience long wait times for the procedure due to funding limitations. Currently, the Health Technology Review (HTR), a joint Ministry of Health and Health Authority process, is seeking to explore which new non-drug health technologies should be publicly funded in the province of British Columbia. A study will be conducted involving people with Parkinson's to gain an understanding of outcomes important to patients and their perceptions and experiences of the treatments available for advanced stage Parkinson's disease. The evidence and recommendations derived from this study will be used to evaluate clinical literature and health policy.  If you have experience with advanced Parkinson's disease and would like to share your experiences, you are asked fill out this form and return it to the contact information provided. Eligibility criteria: Must be a resident of BC Must be proficient in speaking English Must be older than 19 years of age Comfortable sharing their experiences with advanced stage Parkinson's disease People with advanced Parkinson's, carepartners and those who have had DBS are invited to participate Able to receive incoming calls within BC without any additional fees For more information on the Health Technology Review process, please contact Selva Bayat at 604-875-4111, ext. 61732.R