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Communication of Diagnosis: Pain and Grief in the Experience of Parents of Children with a Congenital Malformation

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Neonatal Pain
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Abstract

The majority of families who have children with a congenital malformation do not learn of their children’s diagnosis until after the children are born, so breaking the difficult news of an unexpected diagnosis to parents in the newborn setting is a common occurrence for neonatologist. Presenting the diagnosis to families must be accomplished in a supportive, positive, caring, and honest manner. However, there are few scientific data and little instruction in training programs on how best to convey the news in an appropriate manner. Some articles in the literature over the last 30 years have proposed various guidelines for the so-called informing interview [1]. Discussions of parents’ preferences and experiences in receiving this news have also been documented. Few reports, however, have focused on the breaking of the difficult news of diagnosis of a genetic condition to parents in the newborn setting [25].

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Memo, L., Basile, E., Ferrarini, A., Saia, O.S., Selicorni, A. (2008). Communication of Diagnosis: Pain and Grief in the Experience of Parents of Children with a Congenital Malformation. In: Buonocore, G., Bellieni, C.V. (eds) Neonatal Pain. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0732-1_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0732-1_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0731-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0732-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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