Evaluation of a perinatal palliative care program by SWOT analysis

Area of Science:

• Perinatal medicine
• Palliative care
• Neonatal health

Background:

• Perinatal Palliative Care (PPC) provides specialized support for newborns with life-limiting conditions and their families.
• The "Percorso Giacomo" (PG) is a decade-long PPC service analyzed in this study.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the 10-year experience of the Percorso Giacomo (PG) PPC service.
• To identify areas for improvement and demonstrate the benefits of PPC for families with fetal life-limiting diagnoses.

Main Methods:

• A SWOT analysis was conducted.
• Data included a retrospective review of 48 cases, 21 parent narratives, and 27 expert opinions over 10 years.

Main Results:

• Key strengths included enhanced communication and parental involvement in shared decision-making.
• Weaknesses identified were limited awareness of the PG service and insufficient resources.
• Opportunities lie in establishing innovative care for fetal life-limiting diagnoses, while threats include a general lack of PPC knowledge and delayed referrals.

Conclusions:

• The 10-year SWOT analysis of the PG identified limitations and areas for improvement.
• The PG service demonstrated significant benefits for women with fetal life-limiting diagnoses.
• Findings can inform the replication and enhancement of PPC services in other institutions.