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Antenatal diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia: parents' emotional and cognitive reactions
Lucia Aite1, Alessandro Trucchi, Antonella Nahom
1Neonatal Surgery Unit, Bambino Gesú Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Insights
Parents experience significant fear and emotional distress upon prenatal diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia, hindering comprehension. Follow-up consultations and visual aids are crucial for informed decision-making regarding this congenital anomaly.
Area of Science:
- Medical Genetics
- Fetal Medicine
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Prenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies like diaphragmatic hernia presents unique challenges.
- Parents often lack prior knowledge and face significant emotional responses to such news.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate parental emotional and cognitive responses to prenatal diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia.
- To understand the impact of diagnosis on parental comprehension and decision-making.
Main Methods:
- A survey using questionnaires was administered to couples diagnosed with fetal diaphragmatic hernia.
- Data collected from 37 couples who received prenatal consultation between 1997 and 2002.
Main Results:
- Most parents (93% response rate) reported fear as a primary emotion post-diagnosis.
- High levels of emotional distress (70%) impeded understanding of surgical explanations and question-asking.
- All surveyed parents lacked pre-diagnostic knowledge and found a single consultation insufficient for full comprehension.
Conclusions:
- Emotional distress significantly impairs parents' ability to understand diaphragmatic hernia information.
- Follow-up antenatal consultations are essential for improving comprehension.
- Providing written and visual materials can support informed parental choices regarding fetal diaphragmatic hernia.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to assess parent's emotional and cognitive reactions to the prenatal diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia in their prospective children.
Methods:
A survey was conducted by means of a questionnaire. In the period ranging from 1997 to 2002, 40 couples in whom an established diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia was made in their fetus were seen for prenatal consultation at a tertiary referral center.
Results:
Overall response rate was 93% (37 couples). Mean period since diagnosis for compilation of the questionnaire was 2 weeks. Mean gestational age at diagnosis was 25 weeks (range, 16 to 35 weeks). All parents lacked prediagnostic knowledge of diaphragmatic hernia and consider a single consultation with the paediatric surgeon inadequate to have a clear understanding of the anomaly. Only 1 mother and 1 father reported they understood all the information given by the surgeon. The most frequent (75%) feeling during and after the consultation was fear. Most parents (70%) referred to the intense emotions as the factor that made it difficult to follow the surgeon's explanations as well as to ask questions.
Conclusions:
Because of the incompatibility of emotional distress and optimum learning, impairment of early comprehension of information about diaphragmatic hernia is unavoidable. Therefore, we believe that follow-up antenatal consultations and provision of written and visual illustration are extremely important to facilitate informed choices.
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