Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3091296 Seminars in Pediatric Neurology 2006 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited progressive neuromuscular disease that generally results in death by early adulthood. Because of its life-threatening nature, discussions of advance care planning are extremely relevant to families with affected children and adolescents. Seventeen parents of sons with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were interviewed about their attitudes, experiences, and the nature of their discussions about these topics. Parents showed a lack of familiarity with and experience communicating about advance care planning. They also discussed opportunities for communication that centered on transitional life events. Parents appeared to vacillate between hope for future treatments, avoidance of emotionally difficult aspects of the disease, and presence with the fullness of life’s experiences. These data suggest a model for future research in which windows of opportunity for discussion may exist as sons are approaching significant transitional milestones and parents are able to see the world through a lens of “presence.”

Related Topics
Life Sciences Neuroscience Developmental Neuroscience
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