Antenatal diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia: parents’ emotional and cognitive reactions
Section snippets
Materials and methods
In the period ranging from 1997 to 2002, all couples seen for prenatal consultation at a tertiary referral center, in which an established diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia was made in the fetus, were asked to participate in a psychological study.
Couples fulfilled the following criteria: (1) Communication of diagnosis was done by the same team; (2) no associated anomalies were detected; and (3) no language problems existed.
A pair of identical questionnaires were given to each member of the
Results
Forty couples met the aforementioned criteria and formed the object of this study. Completed questionnaires were received from 37 couples with an overall response rate of 93%. Mean period for returning the questionnaire was 2 weeks (range, 1 to 3 weeks). Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 25 weeks (range, 16 to 37 weeks). Mean maternal and paternal age was 29 years and 31 years, respectively. Educational level ranged from high school (27 mothers; 31 fathers) to graduate (10 mothers, 6
Discussion
Numerous studies have considered the emotional distress of the parents after the diagnosis of a severe fetal malformation.6, 7, 8, 9 Few of these studies have considered the potential cognitive impairment to the prospective parents by the initial communication of the diagnosis of a fetal anomaly. Hunfeld et al10 has assessed to what extent prospective parents recall information given about their unborn baby’s anomaly. Kohler et al5 considered parents’ recollection of the initial communication
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Cited by (29)
Survey on the announcement of congenital diaphragmatic hernia by sonographers and evaluation of its prognosis
2013, Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la ReproductionClinical Determinants of Parents' Emotional Reactions to the Disclosure of a Diagnosis of Congenital Anomaly
2013, JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal NursingCitation Excerpt :Appropriate time and space to express their emotions should be provided to all parents after the disclosure. However, parents who present higher intensity emotional reactions should be the focus of particular attention; whereas negative reactions are normative, more intense responses may hinder the understanding and the decision‐making processes associated with the diagnosis (Aite et al., 2004) and are related to subsequent adjustment difficulties (Fonseca et al., 2011). Parents should also be encouraged to share their appraisal of the DCA (stressful situation) with each other and with health professionals.
Pregnant women's experiences, needs, and preferences regarding information about malformations detected by ultrasound scan
2012, Sexual and Reproductive HealthcareCitation Excerpt :The current findings support Mitchell [34] in her assertion that women and couples merit an opportunity to ask questions at the ultrasound examination, to learn about its limitations, to confront the possibility of a fetal malformation being detected, and to prepare to make difficult decisions. Both written information and visual illustration can facilitate the woman’s decision to continue or to terminate the pregnancy when a malformation is detected [35]. Some women described receiving positive information about the healthy aspects of the fetus as a source of strength and hope.
Patient- and Family-Centered Pediatric Surgical Care
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