Disclosing a Cystic Fibrosis Diagnosis to a Dating Partner

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive chronic medical condition. As medical treatment is improving more persons with CF are living into adulthood and are entering into serious dating relationships. A diagnosis of CF has medical implications of concern to potential life partners including infertility, decreased life span and an increasing need for medical management with age. In addition, there is a small but non negligible possibility of future children inheriting the condition. These implications may make this type of disclosure a particularly important event in one's life and may affect one's disclosure decisions. Little research has been done on the process of disclosure in this population, and research specifically on disclosure to dating partners is lacking.

This study seeks to gain insight into the experience of disclosing a CF diagnosis to a dating partner through semi-structured in-depth phone interviews with approximately 30 persons who have CF and who vary in gender, age, ethnicity, and severity of their condition. The interviews will explore general experiences of disclosure to dating partners, will focus on selective disclosure of certain information to certain recipients, and will explore the implications of the disclosure or non-disclosure experiences. The qualitative interviews will be transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis, which will identify common themes across interviews. An understanding of the disclosure process experienced by persons with cystic fibrosis may provide insight into ways health care practitioners can support their patients during this process.