Perspectives on Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders, the Narrative Medicine contribution to care

This research aimed to investigate the experience of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) by integrating the perspectives of patients, caregivers and clinicians through narrative-based medicine to provide new insights to improve care relationships.

The research was conducted in the second half of 2022 and involved six Italian centres treating NMOSD and targeted adult patients, their caregivers and healthcare providers to collect the three points of view of living with or caring for this rare disease, still difficult to treat despite the pharmacological options. Narratives followed a structured outline according to the time: yesterday-today-tomorrow, to capture all disease phases.

Twenty-five patients diagnosed with NMOSD, ten caregivers and 13 healthcare providers participated in the research. Patients reported symptoms limiting their daily activities and strongly impacting their social dimension. We noticed improvements across disease duration, whilst the persistence of limitations was recurrent in patients with longer diagnoses. Caregivers' narratives mainly share experiences of their daily life changes, the burden of the caregiving role and the solutions identified, if any. Healthcare providers defined their role as a guide.

Limitations in activities are prominent in the lives of people with NMOSD, along with fatigue. Family members are the weakest link in the chain and need information and support. Healthcare professionals are attentive to the helping dimension.