title: A tool to improve pre-selection for deep brain stimulation in patients with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Determining the eligibility of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) for deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be challenging for general (non-specialised) neurologists. We evaluated the use of an online screening tool (Stimulus) that aims to support appropriate referral to a specialised centre for the further evaluation of DBS. Implementation of the tool took place via an ongoing European multicentre educational programme, currently completed in 15 DBS centres with 208 referring neurologists. Use of the tool in daily practice was monitored via an online data capture programme. Selection decisions of patients referred with the assistance of the Stimulus tool were compared to those of patients outside the screening programme. Three years after the start of the programme, 3,128 patient profiles had been entered. The intention for referral was made for 802 patients and referral intentions were largely in accordance with the tool recommendations. Follow-up at 6 months showed that actual referral took place in only 28%, predominantly due to patients' reluctance to undergo brain surgery. In patients screened with the tool and referred to a DBS centre, the acceptance rate was 77%, significantly higher than that of the unscreened population (48%). The tool showed a sensitivity of 99% and a specificity of 12% with a positive and negative predictive value of 79 and 75%, respectively. The Stimulus tool is useful in assisting general neurologists to identify appropriate candidates for DBS consideration. The principal reason for not referring potentially eligible patients is their reluctance to undergo brain surgery.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Neurology and Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Hoppe-Syler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. tobias.waechter@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wächter
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mínguez-Castellanos
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valldeoriola
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stoevelaar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D046690:Deep Brain Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D009862:Online Systems; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome