Transitions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Patient and Caregiver Experiences.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presents many transitions for persons/people with ALS (PwALS) and their caregivers. Transitions are passages from one life phase, condition, or status to another. We used qualitative methods to understand how PwALS and caregivers experience transitions throughout their ALS journey.

Breaking bad news in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the need for medical education.

The manner in which physicians deliver difficult diagnoses is an area of discontent for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The American Academy of Neurology's Practice Parameter for care of the ALS Patient recommended teaching and evaluating strategies for disclosing the diagnosis (10). Our objective was to examine residents' ability in and perceptions of communicating the diagnosis of ALS.