An inductive qualitative content analysis of stigma experienced by people with rare diseases.

Objective: There are more than 6,000 known rare diseases (RDs), which are often serious, chronic, and progressive conditions. Cumulatively, having a RD is actually common, impacting an estimated 300 million people worldwide. While the stigmatization of some specific RDs has been studied, examining stigma in a large sample of many RDs allows for a broader understanding of patterns.

Design: We used inductive qualitative content analysis to analyze survey responses to an open-ended question about challenges of living with a RD among 384 people with 178 distinct RDs.

Results: We identified eight codes which were organized under the following three themes: structurally enacted, interpersonally enacted, and felt stigma. People with RDs experience structurally enacted stigma in the forms of healthcare stigma, education/workplace stigma, and an overall lack of accessibility. They also face interpersonally enacted stigma, including insufficient social support, a lack of understanding from others, and capitalist norms of productivity and self-sufficiency. Additionally, they experience felt stigma related to shame and the pressure to pass as able-bodied.

Conclusion: Possible solutions to RD stigma include increased education about RDs for healthcare professionals, a societal shift towards prioritizing accessibility, strengthened legal protections for disabled people, and expanded disability justice-focused community organizing.