Youth and Family Perspectives on Diagnosis Communication About Pediatric Functional Seizures: A Qualitative Study

This study aims to understand diagnosis communication experiences and preferences of youths with functional seizures and their parents.

Semistructured interviews with youths and their parents from a tertiary care children's hospital were conducted separately. We confirmed the diagnosis of functional seizures with the youth's treating providers. All interviews were audio recorded and professionally transcribed. Two coders performed thematic analysis and determined themes.

Thirteen youths (aged 12 to 18) and 13 parents completed interviews separately. Themes included the following: (1) both parents and youths reported substantial fear about their symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options; (2) good communication skills highlighted included providing reassurance, listening, and allowing time for questions, with different preferences between youths and parents in the mode of communication; (3) poor communication for both youths and parents included use of medical jargon, brevity of communication especially with the youth, minimization of youth's symptoms, lack of apparent compassion, and lack of written materials to supplement discussions; (4) perspectives on the role of mental health in functional seizures were heterogeneous, yet concrete treatment plans were desired including access to behavioral therapy; and (5) youths and parents wanted practical guidance including plans for school and how to respond to functional seizures in all settings.

Youths and parents provided concrete recommendations for optimal diagnosis communication. Study findings will inform the future development of an educational intervention to improve communication and create a supportive environment for youths with functional seizures.