{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,30]],"date-time":"2026-10-30T21:20:50Z","timestamp":1793395250629,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,25]],"date-time":"2018-12-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1545696000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Rett syndrome has considerable effects on the quality of life of affected children, impairing everyday activities and potentially impacting the life of both the caregivers and the family. Our aim was to explore the experiences of a group of caregivers of children with Rett syndrome with regards to living and caring for their children. Methods: We conducted a qualitative case study to examine how 31 caregivers of children with Rett syndrome perceived living with their children. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus groups, researchers\u2019 field notes and caregivers\u2019 personal documents. A thematic analysis was performed following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guideline. Results: The experience of being a caregiver of a child with Rett syndrome was expressed as being akin to an \u201cobstacle course\u201d, and was described via three main themes: (a) looking for answers, with two subthemes identified, namely \u2018the first symptoms\u2019, and \u2018the need for a diagnosis\u2019; (b) managing day to day life, with the subthemes \u2018applying treatments\u2019, and \u2018learning to care\u2019; and (c) money matters. Conclusions: Rett syndrome has a considerable impact on the lives of the caregivers involved. The health-care process and the management of economic resources are some of the aspects highlighted by caregivers. These findings have important implications for the planning of support services, health systems and health policies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph16010041","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,26]],"date-time":"2018-12-26T04:29:54Z","timestamp":1545798594000},"page":"41","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":48,"title":["\u201cLiving an Obstacle Course\u201d: A Qualitative Study Examining the Experiences of Caregivers of Children with Rett Syndrome"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0669-6339","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Domingo","family":"Palacios-Ce\u00f1a","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorc\u00f3n, 28922 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pilar","family":"Famoso-P\u00e9rez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing, Servicio Madrile\u00f1o de Salud, 28004 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jaime","family":"Salom-Moreno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physiotherapy, Universidad Francisco Vitoria, 28223 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3000-6748","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pilar","family":"Carrasco-Garrido","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Surgery, Psychology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Inmunology and Microbiology Medicine, Nursing and Stomatology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorc\u00f3n, 28922 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jorge","family":"P\u00e9rez-Corrales","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorc\u00f3n, 28922 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7745-3006","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paula","family":"Paras-Bravo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nursing, Universidad de Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4824-5915","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Javier","family":"G\u00fceita-Rodriguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorc\u00f3n, 28922 Madrid, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"170216","DOI":"10.1098\/rsob.170216","article-title":"Rett syndrome: A neurological disorder with metabolic components","volume":"8","author":"Kyle","year":"2018","journal-title":"Open Biol."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Chahil, G., and Bollu, P.C. 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Nutr."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/16\/1\/41\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T15:36:00Z","timestamp":1760196960000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/16\/1\/41"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,25]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,1]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph16010041"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph16010041","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,25]]}}}