Hope pluralism in antenatal palliative care

Area of Science:

• Perinatal medicine
• Psychology
• Bioethics

Background:

• Antenatal diagnosis of life-limiting conditions presents complex emotional challenges for parents.
• Hope is a common, yet challenging, response for parents and healthcare professionals in these situations.
• Healthcare providers struggle to balance accurate prognostic communication with the parental experience of hope.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the role and meaning of hope in antenatal settings for life-limiting fetal conditions.
• To explore diverse types of hope held by parents and healthcare professionals.
• To propose a framework for understanding and responding to hope in seemingly hopeless situations.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of parental and professional experiences with antenatal hope.
• Conceptual exploration of hope within the context of life-limiting fetal diagnoses.
• Development of the 'hope pluralism' concept.

Main Results:

• Hope can be a valuable coping mechanism for parents, even with poor prognoses.
• Conflicting hopes between parents and professionals can arise.
• Hopeful thinking may be beneficial rather than harmful in this context.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare professionals should acknowledge and accommodate diverse parental and professional hopes.
• 'Hope pluralism' offers a model for managing conflicting hopes.
• Practical strategies are needed for evaluating and responding to hope in antenatal care for life-limiting conditions.