Mapping Parents' Journey Following Prenatal Diagnosis of CHD: a qualitative study

Authors

• Kelly W. Harris
• Catherine Hammack-AviranFollow
• Kathleen M. Brelsford
• Ann Kavanaugh-McHugh
• Ellen Wright Clayton

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-9-2022

Abstract

This longitudinal qualitative study examines parental experiences following prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). Researchers conducted 62 interviews with members of 17 families during pregnancy and after birth to understand emotional processing, coping strategies, and evolving informational needs. Parents initially sought to balance hope with efforts to comprehend the medical diagnosis and its implications. Over time, as prognostic uncertainty decreased following birth, parents reported increased desire for active involvement in decision-making and clinical care planning. The study identifies shifts in emotional orientation and informational priorities across the prenatal and postnatal periods. These findings suggest that clinicians should tailor communication strategies and support mechanisms to reflect parents’ changing needs throughout the diagnostic and treatment trajectory.

Recommended Citation

Kelly W. Harris, Catherine Hammack-Aviran, Kathleen Brelsford, Ann Kavanaugh-McHugh, Ellen W. Clayton, Mapping Parents' Journey following Prenatal Diagnosis of CHD: a Qualitative Study, Cardiology in the Young 1: 1-9 (2022).