title: Family carers' experiences of receiving the news of a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease: A national survey.
abstract: Family carers have a central role in the care and support of people with MND and face the challenges of the disease from diagnosis to progression and the multiple losses of MND, but their support needs are often neglected. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of family carers at the time of diagnosis and their satisfaction with receiving the news. An anonymous postal survey was facilitated by all MND Associations in Australia (2014) and 190 family carers completed the questionnaire. The questions centred on the SPIKES protocol for communicating bad news. Two-thirds of family carers rated the skills of their neurologists as above average and were satisfied with the delivery of the diagnosis, in terms of having a significantly longer consultation time, the neurologist being warm and caring, satisfaction with the amount and content of information they received and relevant supports, and a plan for following up support. Conversely those who rated the neurologist's skills as below average commented on the difficulties they encountered and the long term emotional stress engendered by poor communication. The study emphasises previous research that suggested that neurologists may require education and training in communicating the diagnosis and this should include family carers as a vital member in MND care.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Electronic address: s.aoun@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Samar M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aoun
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Electronic address: Lauren.Breen@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lauren J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.affiliation: University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NF, UK. Electronic address: drdjoliver@gmail.com.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Butterfield Street, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia. Electronic address: Robert.Henderson@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia. Electronic address: robedis@it.net.au.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Arts & Design, Swinburne University Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia. Electronic address: mmoconnor@swin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia. Electronic address: denise.howting@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Howting
authors.affiliation: MND Victoria, PO Box 23, Canterbury, Victoria 3126, Australia. Electronic address: rharris@mnd.asn.au.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: MND Australia, PO Box 430, North Sydney, NSW 2059, Australia. Electronic address: carolb@mndaust.asn.au.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Birks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D058015:Health Communication; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000072141:Neurologists; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Breaking bad news; Empathy; Family carers; MND diagnosis; MND/ALS; SPIKES protocol