Uncertainty, hope, and coping efficacy among mothers of children with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy

Uncertainties experienced by parents of children diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency through newborn screening

Individuals with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a group of rare, genetic conditions, are at risk for life-threatening illnesses unless diagnosed and treated early. Even after early identification through newborn screening, parents of children with SCID embark on a complex journey marked by a variety of informational and emotional support needs. This paper explored the types of uncertainties experienced by parents of a child with SCID diagnosed through newborn screening. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 parents to discuss the types of uncertainty experienced, including scientific, practical, personal, and existential. Each interview was recorded, transcribed, and coded. Using deductive and inductive content analysis, we describe the type of uncertainty experienced across each stage of the SCID journey. We found that uncertainties in the SCID journey were chronic and multifaceted. Some uncertainties were more prominent at certain points of the journey whereas others spanned multiple stages. Parents expressed a variety of negative emotional reactions to uncertainty, from anxiety, worry, and fear, to doubt, guilt, or grief, and even anger, frustration, and depression. The results speak to the need for healthcare providers to prepare parents for the SCID journey by providing resources to help manage and cope with uncertainty.

Factors contributing to emotional distress when caring for children with imperforate anus: a multisite cross-sectional study in China

Background

Imperforate anus (IA) has a life-long impact on patients and their families. The caregivers of children with IA (CoCIA) might experience distress, which could be detrimental to them physically and mentally. However, there are limitations in the related studies. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of IA and the associated factors contributing to the distress experienced by CoCIA.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in three tertiary children's hospitals from November 2018 to February 2019. Distress was assessed using the Chinese version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and possible determinants were assessed by the Caregiver Reaction Assessment, the Parent Stigma Scale, the Parent Perception of Uncertainty Scale, and the Social Support Scale. Demographic and clinical information was also collected. Multiple regression analysis was performed to explore the association between variables.

Results

Out of 229 CoCIA, 52.9% reported experiencing a high level of distress or above. The data analysis revealed that health problems associated with caregiving, stigma, uncertainty, social support, and children who underwent anal reconstruction surgery 1 year before or earlier could significantly predicate caregivers' distress, and these factors could explain 50.1% of the variance.

Conclusions

The majority of the caregivers of children with IA experience high levels of distress, particularly when their children undergo anal reconstruction surgery 1 year before or earlier. Additionally, health problems related to caregiving, stigma, uncertainty, and low social support could significantly predicate caregivers' distress. It is important for clinical staff to be aware of the prevalent situation of caregivers' distress and to make targeted interventions focused on addressing modifiable factors that should be carried out in family-based care.

Parental coping with uncertainties along the severe combined immunodeficiency journey

Background

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a group of rare genetic disorders that cause disruption in immune system functioning. Parents of children with SCID experience many uncertainties related to their child’s diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and quality of life. To fully understand parents’ experiences throughout their SCID journey, it is important to explore the stressors generated by such uncertainties and how parents cope with these stressors.

Methods

We conducted 26 in-depth interviews with parents whose child was diagnosed with SCID or a SCID-like condition through newborn screening. The interviews explored uncertainties related to their child’s diagnosis and how parents coped with these uncertainties. Transcripts were generated from the interviews and analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach which included data immersion, generation and assignment of codes, and interpretation.

Results

Parents used a variety of behavioral, cognitive, and affective coping strategies which evolved throughout their SCID journeys. Some parents reported coping by playing an active role in their child’s treatment, which included reaching out to other SCID parents or seeking second medical opinions. Other types of coping included establishing house hygiene rules, thinking positively about the child’s treatment progress, and relying on family members for help. These coping strategies were both deliberate and intuitive. Participants also described their struggles in coping with stressors related to their child’s health and survival. They reported difficulty in processing their emotions and experiencing denial and guilt related to their child’s diagnosis. Some parents adapted to ongoing uncertainties through such strategies as positive thinking, self-reflection, and relying on family and community. With successful adaptation, parents emphasized that they continue to use these strategies today.

Conclusion

Our assessment revealed that parents of children diagnosed with SCID use a variety of behavioral, cognitive, and affective approaches to cope with SCID uncertainties. Although parents reported challenges in coping with SCID uncertainties, they also reported finding ways to overcome these stressors and establish patterns of effective coping. Findings from our study can serve as a guide for parents whose child was newly diagnosed with SCID and for providers such as social workers, genetic counselors, and psychologists.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13023-022-02554-9.

A Window of Opportunity for Newborn Screening

Molecular diagnostics and therapies play a central role in an era of precision medicine, with the promise of more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments. Universal newborn screening (NBS) identifies those health conditions that must be treated in early life and before clinical symptoms become apparent, to maximize effectiveness, prevent morbidity, and reduce or eliminate mortality. However, enthusiasm about NBS as the logical platform for early identification is tempered by the realization that NBS under public health authority exists in a complex ecology in which technology and medicine intersect with politics, ethics, advocacy, and resource constraints-a classic translational challenge that is exacerbated when considering the possible introduction of genome sequencing and molecular therapies in NBS. Substantial change is inevitable if the current model of NBS can be prepared for an envisioned future of greatly expanded molecular diagnostics and therapies. A window of opportunity for modernization now exists, but what changes are needed? The purpose of this commentary is to identify five major initiatives to stimulate focused discussion on how modernization might be achieved: (1) build systems for more rapid collection and integration of extant data relevant to NBS; (2) establish a national network of NBS research centers to design and conduct prospective research studies addressing critical NBS questions; (3) create a network of regional NBS laboratories to expedite state implementation of new methodologies or screening for newly recommended conditions; (4) establish a new stream of federal funding to provide financial support for states and incentivize national harmonization; and (5) integrate solutions in a way that is strategic and effective. Some aspects of these recommendations suggest that radical policy changes are needed to implement molecular testing in NBS and take advantage of emerging molecular therapies. I focus on recommendations for modernizing NBS in the US, some of which may be applicable in other countries.

The Psychological Adaptation Process in Chinese Parent Caregivers of Pediatric Leukemia Patients: A Qualitative Analysis

BACKGROUND

Psychological stresses caused by caring for pediatric leukemia patients can affect their parent caregivers' health. How these stressors are successfully managed determines how well these caregivers adapt to the illness situation over time. Previous studies suggest that caregivers will adapt gradually to the adverse consequences of caring for their child with a long-term illness. However, studies of the psychological adaptation process of family caregivers of children with leukemia are limited.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to study the psychological adaptation process of the parent caregivers of pediatric leukemia patients.

METHODS

In this qualitative study, we interviewed 32 caregivers of children with leukemia in China. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using the content analysis method.

RESULTS

The psychological adaptation process in caregivers of pediatric leukemia patients seems to involve 5 stages: initial devastation, accumulation of hope, fluctuation in feelings, integration, and psychological adaptation. Significant emotional changes were observed at each stage.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified commonalities in the psychological adaptation process experienced by caregivers of children with leukemia in the Chinese social and cultural context. It also characterized the different emotions that the caregivers had in the 5 stages of adaptation. In addition, our research identified the possible psychological interventions at different stages.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

The study described the adaptation process of Chinese parents of children with leukemia. The findings of this study will help nurses identify main coping resources, controllable intervention factors, and the timing of intervention for these caregivers of children with leukemia.

Understanding European patient expectations towards current therapeutic development in spinal muscular atrophy

Following the 2017 approval of a first spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) treatment by the European Medicines Agency, SMA Europe launched a Europe-wide survey with the goal of understanding patients' treatment expectations, realities of daily living and access to clinical trials and therapy, and how this varied according to parameters such as age and disease severity. A response rate of 31% yielded 1474 completed surveys from 26 European countries. In line with findings from a 2015 SMA Europe-led survey, participants considered stabilization of their condition to be progress. Notably, responses indicated that the current classification of SMA at diagnosis by 'type' often does not reflect current mobility level. Large gaps in treatment access were identified that varied in particular between age and disease severity groups, yet there was high interest in clinical trial participation. In addition, alternative treatment options, including combination therapies, are now expectations. These perspectives should be central considerations through the research and development processes of new SMA therapies, through data generation and discussions on access to therapies. Results from this survey indicate that collaboration between stakeholders is essential to the foundation upon which innovative approaches for SMA treatments and access can be explored.

Different Reaction Patterns of Caregivers of Children With Imperforate Anus: A Latent Profile Analysis

AIM

This study aimed to explore how different dimensions of caregivers' reaction shape their caring experience, and the factors associated with different reaction patterns.

DESIGN

A second analysis of a multisite cross-sectional study were conducted. Caregivers of children with imperforate anus (IA) were enrolled in three tertiary children's hospitals in Eastern China between November 2018 and February 2019.

METHODS

The caregiver's experience, stigma feeling, social support level and perception of uncertainty were assessed by Caregiver Reaction Assessment, Parent Stigma Scale, Social Support Scale and Parent's Perception of Uncertainty Scale accordingly. The demographic information of caregivers as well as the children's clinical data were collected. Latent profile analysis was conducted to determine different patterns of caregiver's reaction, and logistics analysis was used to explore the associated factors of the reaction pattern.

FINDINGS

A total number of 229 caregivers (median age = 30, quartiles: 28, 36) were included. Three distinguishable caregiving reaction types were identified (Class 1: low burden and high benefit, 4.8%; Class 2: moderate burden and benefit, 48.9%; Class 3: high burden and low benefit, 46.3%). In logistics analysis, the Class 1 and Class 2 were combined as one group due to the low population in Class 1. The marital status of caregiver (OR = 0.067, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.700, P = 0.024), IA type (OR = 1.745, 95% CI: 1.198, 2.541, P = 0.004), children aged > 2 years (OR = 3.219, 95% CI: 1.364, 7.597, P = 0.008), social support (OR = 0.907, 95% CI: 0.865, 0.951, P < 0.001) and perception of uncertainty (OR = 1.054, 95% CI: 1.026, 1.083, P < 0.001) were associated with different caregiver reaction patterns.

CONCLUSION

Nearly half of the caregivers of children with IA experience reaction of high burden and low benefit, but considerable proportion of caregivers could benefit from the caregiving rather than burden from. Married caregivers may have more negative reaction, especially when children > 2 years and diagnosed with intermediate or high type of IA. However, increasing caregiver's social support and reducing perception of uncertainty may have the potential to modify their reaction pattern.

Parent Experiences of Sanfilippo Syndrome Impact and Unmet Treatment Needs: A Qualitative Assessment

Introduction

Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS III) is a rare, degenerative condition characterized by symptoms impacting cognitive ability, mobility, behavior, and quality of life. Currently there are no approved therapies for this severe life-limiting disease. Integrating patient and caregiver experience data into drug development and regulatory decision-making has become a priority of the Food and Drug Administration and rare disease patient communities.

Methods

This study assesses parents’ perceptions of their child’s Sanfilippo syndrome disease-related symptoms using a research approach that is consistent with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) guidance. This study was initiated by the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, and all steps in the research process were informed by a multidisciplinary advisory committee, with an objective of informing biopharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies. We explored caregiver burden, symptoms with greatest impact, and meaningful but unmet treatment needs. Data were collected from 25 parents through three focus groups and a questionnaire. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, and descriptive analysis of quantitative data was conducted.

Results

Participating parents’ children ranged in age from 4 to 36 years. Participants endorsed high caregiving burden across all stages of the disease. Analysis revealed multiple domains of unmet need that impact child and family quality of life, including cognitive-behavioral challenges in communication, relationships, behavior, anxiety, and child safety; and physical health symptoms including sleep, pain, and mobility. Participants reported placing high value on incremental benefits targeting those symptoms, and on a treatment that would slow or stop symptom progression.

Conclusion

Even modest treatment benefits for Sanfilippo syndrome were shown to be highly valued. Despite high caregiver burden, most parents expressed a willingness to “try anything,” including treatments with potentially high risk profiles, to maintain their child’s current state.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40120-020-00226-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.