Living with a chronic and genetic illness: the case of the Gitelman¿s Syndrome

Head of project at USI: Peter J. Schulz
Starting date: 1 Giugno 2009
Duration: 12 months

Topic areas:

• S210 Sociology
• S265 Press and communication sciences

Faculty involved:

• Facoltà di scienze della comunicazione

Collaborators:

• Maddalena Fiordelli - collaboratore
• Maria Caiata Zufferey - collaboratore

Institutes involved:

• Institute of Communication and Health

Other partners involved:
Dr. Med. Mario Bianchetti , Ospedale Regionale Bellinzona e Valli, Dr. Med. Alberto Bettinelli dell¿Ospedale San Leopoldo Mandic di Merate

Funding Sources:

• Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC)

The syndrome of Gitelman is a rare renal pathology. Once diagnosed, it can be efficiently treated through appropriate medicines. Therefore, this illness is generally considered a benign and an asymptomatic one. However, the clinical experience suggests that daily living with the Gitelman´s syndrome is far from easy. This study aims to explore the strategies patients affected by Gitelman´s syndrome use to manage their illness in their daily life.

Publications:

• Caiata Zufferey M., Zanini C., Bettinelli A., Schulz P., Bianchetti MG. (2010). How young adult patients with Gitelman syndrome experience their disease in everyday life: the results of a qualitative explorative study. 42th Annual Meeting of the Swiss Society of Nephrology, Lugano (CH), December 1-3.