Relevant Research

Mickie D. Welsh, R.N., D.N.Sc., is Director of Clinical Research at the University of Southern California. Her experience with people with Parkinson’s and PD research began in 1992. Dr. Welsh's main research interests focus on independence enhancement and quality of life issues of movement disorders for patients and their caregivers. This includes topics such as sexuality in PD, coping and adaptation, and driving. An additional focus is development and psychometric testing of quality of life outcome instruments for use in clinical practice and research. She is refining the evaluative properties of a quality of life instrument being tested in multi-site prospective studies of patients with PD and cervical dystonia.

Publications relevant to PDQUALIF

• Development and testing of the Parkinson’s Disease Quality of Life Scale, Welsh M, McDermott MP, Holloway RG, Plumb S, Pfeiffer R, Hubble J; Parkinson Study Group, Mov Disord. 2003 June 18(6):637-45.
• Rasagiline improves quality of life in patients with early Parkinson's disease, Biglan KM, Schwid S, Eberly S, Blindauer K, Fahn S, Goren T, Kieburtz K, Oakes D, Plumb S, Siderowf A, Stern M, Shoulson I; Parkinson Study Group, Mov Disord. 2006 May;21(5):616-23.
• Pramipexole versus levodopa in patients with early Parkinson's disease: effect on generic and disease-specific quality of life, Noyes K, Dick AW, Holloway RG; Parkinson Study Group,Value Health. 2006 Jan-Feb;9(1):28-38.
• SF-36 includes less Parkinson Disease (PD)-targeted content but is more responsive to change than two PD-targeted health-related quality of life measures. Brown CA, Cheng EM, Hays RD, Vassar SD, Vickrey BG. Qual Life Res. 2009 Nov;18(9):1219-37. Epub 2009 Aug 28.