Education and participation in children and adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in Switzerland

Quality of life in Duchenne muscular dystrophy has been reported to be negatively affected by the lack of qualifying education and the lack of opportunities for participation in leisure activities. Two thirds of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have cognitive and/or psychiatric problems. Thus, we conducted a survey study on mobility, school problems, executive functions, social participation and quality of life in young patients in Switzerland. We contacted 60 male patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 8-18 years through the Swiss Registry for Neuromuscular Disorders. Mobility, school problems and social participation in leisure activities were assessed with a self-constructed questionnaire. Quality of life and executive function were assessed using KIDSCREEN-10 and BRIEF scores, respectively. Out of 60 dispatched surveys, 67 % were filled out and included. Approximately half of the participants went to a special needs school, and 83 % rated their overall quality of life as good. We did not find a correlation between mobility and quality of life, whereas more social participation was correlated with higher quality of life. Furthermore, patients with more difficulties in executive functions showed less participation and lower quality of life. These results underline the need for neuropsychological and adapted assistance in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to facilitate education and social participation.