Reactions of Mothers and Medical Professionals to a Film About Down Syndrome

Abstract

This study compared the beliefs of mothers (N=36) ci persons with Down Syndrome with the beliefs of genetic counselors (N=28) and nurses (N=32) about parenting children with Down Syndrome and about prenatal diagnosis. All subjects were shown a videotaped discussion by parents of persons with Down Syndrome and then responded to a questionnaire. Major findings included: 89% of mothers felt the film was an accurate portrayal of parental attitudes compared with 14% of genetic counselors and 40% of nurses; 92% of mothers thought the film was of "high" educational value compared to 30% of genetic counselors; 48% of genetic counselors felt that problems outweighed benefits in parenting a child with Down syndrome, but 94% of mothers and 83% of nurses thought that benefits predominated; and 56% of genetic counselors believed that parents of a person with Down syndrome would chc.rdse to abort a subsequent affected fetus, while only 8% uf mc.chers and 10% of nurses agreed. Coatains 30 references. (DB)

Factors associated with emotional response of parents at the time of diagnosis of Down syndrome

“…When compared with parents, healthcare providers reported significantly higher negative impact. In another study, 48% of the genetic counselors reported that the problems associated with parenting a child with Down syndrome outweigh the benefits, while only 6% of mothers and 17% of nurses agreed (Cooley et al., 1990). Unless healthcare providers recognize their own feelings and attitudes toward disability, it will be difficult for them to help parents accept a child with Down syndrome and develop a positive outlook on child rearing.…”

“…The survey questionnaire was developed by the researchers based on literature related to families of children with Down syndrome (Cooley, Graham, Moeschler, & Graham, 1990;Garwick et al, 1995;Murdoch, 1983;Skotko, 2005). Most of the items in the questionnaire were based on the study by Garwick et al (1995) and Skotko (2005), which reported family reactions to the birth of a child with Down syndrome.…”

An Integrated Literature Review of the Knowledge Needs of Parents With Children With Special Health Care Needs and of Instruments to Assess These Needs

“…In addition to the evaluation of instruments that assess the knowledge needs of parents with children with special health care needs, further studies assessing the specific knowledge needs of parents and comparing them with the perception of professionals (Cooley, Graham, Moeschler, & Graham, 1990) and studies assessing the knowledge needs of parents of children with specific syndromes (Skotko, Capone, Kishnani, & for the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Study Group, 2009) may be useful.…”

The social and educational impacts of the first national Down Syndrome support group in the UAE

“…It has been argued that many professionals overestimate the problems which are likely to be met in the home, at school and in the community, and there is evidence that these negative views survive even in the face of direct contradictory evidence (Cooley, Graham, Moeschler & Graham, 1990; Murdoch & Anderson, 1990). A collection of recent studies cited in Lam and Mackenzie (2002) suggests that there are joys and positive effects in parenting a child with a developmental disability.…”