Dulce
Outline: Dulce has progressive MS and experiences pain, stiffness, and more recently voice symptoms. She decided not to participate in a clinical trial because her MS is stable but would be open to participating if her disease progresses.
Background: Dulce, age 42, is an advanced practice nurse and nurse researcher who lives alone in a suburban area in the Southwest. She identifies as a Hispanic heterosexual woman.
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Dulce was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 39 after experiencing several years of pain, muscle spasms, and numbness in her fingers and the left side of her body. Dulce was offered a clinical trial and decided not to participate because her multiple sclerosis was stable, and she felt that she had “got [her] body pretty figured out overall" and didn't want to make any changes. She would be open to trial in the future if she has breakthrough lesions on the treatment she is currently on, as she “highly respect(s) everyone who was in the trial for this (medication currently on).” Dulce has participated in a vaccine trial in the past as well as other research studies: “you don't get innovation without participants.”