Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Parents' Coping With Children's Newly Diagnosed Long-Qt Syndrome: A Qualitative Study Of The Function And Utilization Of An Online User Group, Allison Burns-Pentecost

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

Long QT syndrome is a sudden death syndrome that occurs in about 1 in 2,000 births. LQTS is caused by genetic mutations that affect the electrophysiology of the heart, resulting in a prolonged QT interval and possible cardiac arrhythmia, syncope or sudden death. Treatments include medications, implantable cardioverter defibrillators and activity restrictions. Little research exists regarding the psychosocial factors of the illness or the ways in which families cope with diagnosis and management of the chronic illness. The current study used archival data from an online user group. Participants were members of the group who discussed concerns related to LQTS. …