| 1. |
- Bratt, Ewa-Lena, 1970, et al.
(author)
-
Continuing pregnancy following a prenatal diagnosis of a cardiac defect: What support do parents need?
- 2015
-
In: Cardiology 2015. 18th Annual Update on Pediatroc and Congenital Cardiovascular Disease. Challenges and Dilemmas. Feb 11-15, 2015. Scottsdale, Arizona, US..
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Purpose To explore pregnant women´s/couples’ experiences of counseling and need for support during continued pregnancy following a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). Conceptual framework Couples choosing continued pregnancy need support from the time of prenatal diagnosis until delivery. Method Design: Qualitative study, using in-depth interviews 4-8 weeks after prenatal diagnosis. Setting: A tertiary center fetal cardiology unit in Sweden Sample: 12 pregnant women and their partners, consecutively recruited after a prenatal diagnosis of an isolated and significant cardiac defect in their fetus. Data analysis: Qualitative content analysis. Major findings The analysis resulted in four themes: Making the decision: Short waiting time for specialist evaluation together with clear, honest and straightforward information was essential. The importance of knowledge: Parents called for written information together with a high-quality regulated website with information about CHD. The importance of support: Continued and easy access, throughout pregnancy, to health care professionals, including a pediatric specialist nurse, was important. Other parents with similar experiences and social media were also valuable sources of support. Future and daily life: Practical and economical issues during the hospital stay and the initial period after the hospital stay were common concerns. Conclusion The results provided valuable knowledge of how to improve information and support during pregnancy. Short waiting time from first suspicion to definitive diagnosis and continued support throughout pregnancy emphasizing the role of the pediatric cardiology specialist nurse was important. Web-based information was warranted Clinical implications These results provide important information for a future intervention study of a structured follow-up program in collaboration between antenatal- and pediatric cardiac caregivers.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bratt, Ewa-Lena, 1970, et al.
(author)
-
Parental reactions, distress, and sense of coherence after prenatal versus postnatal diagnosis of complex congenital heart disease
- 2019
-
In: Cardiology in the Young. - 1047-9511 .- 1467-1107. ; 29:11, s. 1328-1334
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: A diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) in offspring triggers psychological distress in parents. Results of previous studies have been inconsistent regarding the psychological impact of a prenatal versus a postnatal diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the time of diagnosis on levels of parental distress. Methods: Pregnant women and their partners with a fetus diagnosed with complex CHD, parents of children with postnatally diagnosed CHD, and pregnant women and their partners with uncomplicated pregnancies were invited to participate. Data were collected during pregnancy and 2–6 months after delivery using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, sense of coherence, life satisfaction, and Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Results: During pregnancy, the prenatal group scored lower sense of coherence compared to controls (p=0.044). Postnatally the prenatal group scored lower on sense of coherence compared to the postnatal group and controls (p=0.001; p=0.001). Postnatally, the prenatal and postnatal groups had higher levels of anxiety compared to controls (p=0.025; p=0.0003). Life satisfaction was lower in the prenatal group compared to that in the postnatal group and in controls (p=0.000; p=0.0004). Conclusion: Parents with a prenatal diagnosis of CHD in offspring report a low sense of coherence already during pregnancy which decreased further at follow-up. The same group reported a lower satisfaction with life compared to parents of a child with postnatal diagnosis of CHD and parents of a healthy child. This motivates further efforts to improve counselling and support during pregnancy and for parents after a prenatal diagnosis.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
