A mixed methods exploration of families' experiences of the diagnosis of childhood spinal muscular atrophy

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease with a carrier frequency of 1 in 41 in Australia. Childhood SMA is classified into three types based on the age at which children present with symptoms and the clinical severity. Families' experiences leading up to the diagnosis have not been described, but are important when considering the potential for a diagnostic odyssey. Using a mixed methods approach, data were collected from interviews and a national survey of families of children with SMA to explore their experiences of this journey. The combined findings (n = 28) revealed that the journey to receiving a diagnosis was protracted. The time from first noticing symptoms to finally receiving a diagnosis was emotional and frustrating. Once parents or other family members became aware of symptoms, almost all had consulted with multiple different health professionals before the diagnosis was ultimately made. Not surprisingly, receiving the diagnosis was devastating to the families. The nature of the information and the way it was given to them was not always optimal, particularly because of the difficulties predicting clinical severity. Most felt that their child could have been diagnosed earlier and, although there were mixed views around the benefit of this for their child, they felt it may have reduced the emotional impact on families. Overall, families were more in favour of population carrier screening for SMA when compared with newborn screening of the population. Despite an increasing awareness of SMA, the diagnostic delay continues to have negative impacts on families.