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Kats DJ, Donelan K, Banerjee S, de Graaf G, Skladzien E, Hooper BT, Mordi R, Mykhailenko T, Buckley F, Santoro SL, Patsiogiannis V, Krell K, Haugen K, Skotko BG. Results of inaugural international Down Syndrome Societal Services and Supports survey. Genet Med 2024; 26:101114. [PMID: 38512346 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We previously designed the Down Syndrome Societal Services and Supports Survey (DS-4S) to measure country-specific supports for people with Down syndrome (DS) across multiple life domains (healthcare, education, policy, independence, and community inclusion). We now report and analyze the results. METHODS We partnered with international DS consortia, who distributed the DS-4S to 154 cumulative members representing over 100 countries. Organizations were included if they had a holistic focus on the lives of people with DS and if at least 50% of their members either have DS or are family members of people with DS. Factor analysis was used to analyze the results. RESULTS We received survey responses from 55 different organizations in 50 countries who met inclusion criteria. Each country had complete data for at least 4 of the 5 domains. The lowest 5 scores were from countries in Africa and Asia; the highest 5 scores were in Europe and North America. CONCLUSION The responses to the DS-4S stratified countries within each surveyed domain. The DS-4S can now be used to track countries' progress over time and to determine which countries have best practices that might be replicated. We will publish the results and update them biennially at www.DownSyndromeQualityOfLife.com.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Kats
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Karen Donelan
- Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA; Health Policy Research Center, The Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA
| | - Souvik Banerjee
- Department of Economics, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, India
| | - Gert de Graaf
- Dutch Down Syndrome Foundation, Meppel, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Rose Mordi
- Down Syndrome Foundation Nigeria, Lagos, Nigeria
| | | | - Frank Buckley
- Down Syndrome Education International, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie L Santoro
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Vasiliki Patsiogiannis
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Kavita Krell
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Kelsey Haugen
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Brian G Skotko
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
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Alhammad SA, Alqahtani AS, Alwadeai KS, Algabbani MF, Alhusaini AA. Walking capacity and its association with quality of life among children with down syndrome in Saudi Arabia. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:55. [PMID: 38238665 PMCID: PMC10797893 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-04519-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Walking ability, which has been connected to better health and independence, is one of the daily activities that is negatively impacted by Down syndrome. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the walking capacity and its association with the quality of life of children who have Down syndrome compared to those who do not have Down syndrome in Saudi Arabia. METHODS For this cross-sectional study, we recruited 68 Arabic-speaking children aged 6 to 12 using a convenience sampling method from August to November 2021. Children were divided into two groups: those who do not have Down syndrome (n = 38) and those who have Down syndrome (n = 30). Children in the Riyadh region of Saudi Arabia who do not have Down syndrome were chosen randomly from two schools. Children who have Down syndrome were selected from multiple associations and centers in the same region. A 6-minute walk test was used to measure the child's walking capacity. The Arabic version of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scale was used to assess the child's or parent's perceptions of the child's quality of life and its physical, emotional, social, and school functioning domains. RESULTS The difference in the mean 6-minute walk test scores between children who have and who do not have Down syndrome was statistically significant, with a mean difference = 105.6, 95% confidence limit = 57.2-154.0, p < .0001. The linear regression analysis after adjusting for age, height, weight, and body mass index revealed that walking capacity was found to be significantly associated with the worst score on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scale (β = -2.71, SE = 0.49, p < .0001) and its domains of physical, social, and school functioning (β = -2.29, SE = 0.54, p < .0001; β = -2.40, SE = 0.58; p = .001; β = -3.71, SE = 0.56, p = .002, respectively) in children who have Down syndrome, but they had better emotional functioning than children who do not have Down syndrome. CONCLUSIONS Children who have Down syndrome were less able to walk and were highly associated with the worst possible quality of life, which included the lowest levels of physical, social, and school functioning. Early interventions with techniques must be developed to improve the quality of life for these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad A Alhammad
- Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Amani S Alqahtani
- Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid S Alwadeai
- Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha F Algabbani
- Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adel A Alhusaini
- Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh, 11433, Saudi Arabia
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Yang J, Por LY, Leong MC, Ku CS. The Potential of ChatGPT in Assisting Children with Down Syndrome. Ann Biomed Eng 2023; 51:2638-2640. [PMID: 37332002 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03281-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
ChatGPT, an advanced language generation model developed by OpenAI, has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery and support for individuals with various conditions, including Down syndrome. This article explores the applications of ChatGPT in assisting children with Down syndrome, highlighting the benefits it can bring to their education, social interaction, and overall well-being. While acknowledging the challenges and limitations, we examine how ChatGPT can be utilized as a valuable tool in enhancing the lives of these children, promoting their cognitive development, and supporting their unique needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yang
- Department of Computer System and Technology, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Lip Yee Por
- Department of Computer System and Technology, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, Universiti Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Ming Chern Leong
- Paediatric & Congenital Heart Centre, Institut Jantung Negara, 145, Jalan Tun Razak, 51200, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Chin Soon Ku
- Department of Computer Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 31900, Kampar, Malaysia.
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Santoro SL, Haugen K, Donelan K, Skotko BG. Global health measures from a National Down Syndrome Registry. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:2092-2099. [PMID: 37183579 PMCID: PMC10526626 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
People with Down syndrome (DS) have a unique medical profile which may impact views of health. We aimed to study the use of global health measures for DS in a national cohort. We prospectively surveyed parents of individuals with DS from the DS-Connect® registry with validated Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)® instruments of global health. Analyses included use of scoring manuals and the PROMIS® scoring service, descriptive statistics, and t-tests. We received completed surveys from 223 parents of individuals with DS; previously published limitations of the instrument in this population were shown again. T-scores differed from the available comparative standardized scores to these measures from PROMIS® reference population on Fatigue (p < 0.001) and Global Health (p < 0.001), but not on Pain Interference (p = 0.41).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. Santoro
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kelsey Haugen
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karen Donelan
- Health Policy Research Center, The Mongan Institute, Survey Research Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute of Healthcare Systems, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brian G. Skotko
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Santoro SL, Baker S, Blake JM, Cabrera MJ, Caughman K, Chung J, Cullen S, Gallagher M, Haugen K, Hoke-Chandler R, Krell K, Maina J, McLuckie D, Merker VL, Michael C, O’Neill K, Peña A, Pless A, Royal D, Slape M, Spinazzi NA, Torres A, Torres CG, Skotko BG. Views on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health in people with Down syndrome from diverse backgrounds. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:2045-2056. [PMID: 37264986 PMCID: PMC10524618 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) has a unique medical and psychological profile. To date, few studies have asked individuals with DS about their views of health, and fewer have explored the impact of COVID-19 on the health of individuals with DS and their families. We used a mixed methods approach including two studies on the health of individuals with DS and their parents conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) eight virtual focus groups, comprised of 20 parents and 8 individuals with DS to obtain participants' views of health, and (2) a 20-item questionnaire on health care experience of patients with DS who are African American or come from primarily Spanish-speaking homes. Focus group transcripts were coded using a hybrid inductive/deductive framework and thematically analyzed using the Framework Method. This questionnaire included questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on caregivers and their loved ones with DS; responses to these questions were summarized using descriptive statistics. Individuals with DS discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their physical and social health including masking, online learning, and online communication with friends and family. Parents of individuals with DS discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted their child's physical, social, and mental health, as a result of virtual schooling and decreased socialization. There were unexpected positives of the pandemic such as improved hygiene and eased scheduling with telehealth visits. Caregivers noted COVID-19 impacted their own anxiety, employment, and other domains that have potential ripple effects on the health of their children. The COVID-19 pandemic had a pervasive impact on the mental health and wellness of caregivers as well as the physical, social, and mental health of individuals with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. Santoro
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Jasmine M. Blake
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Maria J. Cabrera
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | - Jeanhee Chung
- Laboratory of Computer Science, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Sarah Cullen
- Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, Burlington, MA
| | | | - Kelsey Haugen
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | - Kavita Krell
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Vanessa L. Merker
- Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Carie Michael
- Mongan Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Kate O’Neill
- LuMind IDSC Down Syndrome Foundation, Burlington, MA
| | - Angeles Peña
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Albert Pless
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Noemi Alice Spinazzi
- Division of Primary Care, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Oakland, CA
| | - Amy Torres
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | - Brian G. Skotko
- Down Syndrome Program, Division of Medical Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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