Psychological Support in Prenatal Diagnosis: The Parental Perspective

The communication of a diagnosis of fetal malformation is a very complex event for the parental couple to experience. The aim of the study is to report a planned evaluation of an ongoing psychological support within a prenatal diagnosis clinic, examining the extent to which it represents a source of support service for parental couples. An ad hoc semi-structured questionnaire was administered to couples who had received a prenatal diagnosis of fetal malformation, regardless of whether they had received psychological support. Descriptive analyses were performed on quantitative items, while an inductive thematic analysis was applied to open-ended responses to identify recurring themes. The results show that the majority of couples who used the support reported being satisfied with it. The ultrasound examination and specialist consultation were considered by the majority of the participants to be the most appropriate moments to receive the counseling. On the other hand, 41.38% of the couples who did not receive support would have liked to have received it. Finally, the majority of the couples, regardless of whether they received psychological support, would recommend that couples in similar situations seek psychological support and that other hospital facilities integrate such services. The results show that among couples who have received psychological support, most reported having benefited from it. In the absence of the psychologist within the multidisciplinary team, however, only a few participants have actively requested it. The findings are discussed in terms of the clinical relevance of psychological support at the time of fetal diagnostic assessments and specialist consultation.