Parents of children with Down syndrome and their experiences with the healthcare services. 2021

Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg

Children and adolescents with Down syndrome have a comprehensive need for follow-up in the primary and specialist healthcare services. In June 2019, we published a questionnaire on the Facebook group of the Norwegian Network for Down syndrome. The purpose was to investigate user experiences among parents of children and adolescents with Down syndrome in the age group 0-20 years, in their encounter with the healthcare services. We received 174 responses. Those most satisfied were parents of children who received follow-up for secondary diagnoses such as vision problems, heart defects and endocrine disorders. Those least satisfied were parents of children with problems associated with behaviour, sleep and puberty. Approximately 6 out of 10 parents reported no negative experiences in their encounter with the healthcare services, but 29/161 (18 %) reported that the diagnosis of Down syndrome had contributed to treatment failure by the paediatrician or in the child rehabilitation service. The study indicates a need for improved follow-up of children and adolescents with Down syndrome, both in the primary and specialist healthcare services.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D010290 Parents Persons functioning as natural, adoptive, or substitute parents. The heading includes the concept of parenthood as well as preparation for becoming a parent. Step-Parents,Parental Age,Parenthood Status,Stepparent,Age, Parental,Ages, Parental,Parent,Parental Ages,Status, Parenthood,Step Parents,Step-Parent,Stepparents
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003695 Delivery of Health Care The concept concerned with all aspects of providing and distributing health services to a patient population. Delivery of Dental Care,Health Care,Health Care Delivery,Health Care Systems,Community-Based Distribution,Contraceptive Distribution,Delivery of Healthcare,Dental Care Delivery,Distribution, Non-Clinical,Distribution, Nonclinical,Distributional Activities,Healthcare,Healthcare Delivery,Healthcare Systems,Non-Clinical Distribution,Nonclinical Distribution,Activities, Distributional,Activity, Distributional,Care, Health,Community Based Distribution,Community-Based Distributions,Contraceptive Distributions,Deliveries, Healthcare,Delivery, Dental Care,Delivery, Health Care,Delivery, Healthcare,Distribution, Community-Based,Distribution, Contraceptive,Distribution, Non Clinical,Distributional Activity,Distributions, Community-Based,Distributions, Contraceptive,Distributions, Non-Clinical,Distributions, Nonclinical,Health Care System,Healthcare Deliveries,Healthcare System,Non Clinical Distribution,Non-Clinical Distributions,Nonclinical Distributions,System, Health Care,System, Healthcare,Systems, Health Care,Systems, Healthcare
D004314 Down Syndrome A chromosome disorder associated either with an extra CHROMOSOME 21 or an effective TRISOMY for chromosome 21. Clinical manifestations include HYPOTONIA, short stature, BRACHYCEPHALY, upslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthus, Brushfield spots on the iris, protruding tongue, small ears, short, broad hands, fifth finger clinodactyly, single transverse palmar crease, and moderate to severe INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. Cardiac and gastrointestinal malformations, a marked increase in the incidence of LEUKEMIA, and the early onset of ALZHEIMER DISEASE are also associated with this condition. Pathologic features include the development of NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES in neurons and the deposition of AMYLOID BETA-PROTEIN, similar to the pathology of ALZHEIMER DISEASE. (Menkes, Textbook of Child Neurology, 5th ed, p213) Mongolism,Trisomy 21,47,XX,+21,47,XY,+21,Down Syndrome, Partial Trisomy 21,Down's Syndrome,Partial Trisomy 21 Down Syndrome,Trisomy 21, Meiotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy 21, Mitotic Nondisjunction,Trisomy G,Downs Syndrome,Syndrome, Down,Syndrome, Down's
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

Related Publications

Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
July 2023, Disability and rehabilitation,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
August 2014, American journal of speech-language pathology,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
January 2020, Child neurology open,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
June 2011, Indian journal of pediatrics,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
August 2011, Physical & occupational therapy in pediatrics,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
November 2001, Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
November 2001, Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
August 2001, Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
January 1981, American journal of medical genetics,
Marte Johanne Stefferud, and Anne Grethe Einang, and Claus Klingenberg
May 2022, American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilities,
Copied contents to your clipboard!