The End Of Being A Straight Child: An Autoethnography Of Coping With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Purpose: In the field of research on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, the personal dimension is undervalued. Even the most comprehensive and current recommendations focus on biomedical issues and are entirely based on quantitative studies. Reports and narratives presenting people's preferences, values, views, and opinions, especially of those affected by this health condition, are not considered in those reports. This article's aim is to present personal experiences of scoliosis screening, diagnosis, and treatment, to contribute to the discussion. Methods: This is an evocative narrative autoethnography study, which allows focusing on the personal story of the author's experiences of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis management, connecting it to the rehabilitation context. Results: Experiences of non-person-centred rehabilitation resulted in stigmatisation, distress, and emotional upset, including anxiety and fear. In contrast, person-centred therapeutic relationship involved more positive outcomes of care, such as becoming an engaged co-responsible and active partner in rehabilitation. Conclusions: It is strongly suggested to promote biographical research into the personal experiences of all aspects of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, to identify patients' preferences and values more clearly. Furthermore, screening, diagnosis and treatment processes should be reviewed in terms of person-centredness, to ensure they are responsive to young people's needs in the vulnerable time of puberty.