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SHR Neuro Cancer Cardio Lipid Metab Microb
Schweizer, R; Buchi, S; Fauchere, JC; Morgeli, HP; Jenewein, J.
What helps parents to cope with the death of their extremely premature child? A qualitative study
GEBURTSH FRAUENHEILK. 2007; 67(12): 1345-1350.
Doi: 10.1055/s-2007-989310
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- Co-authors Med Uni Graz
- Jenewein Josef
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- Abstract:
- Background: Preterm delivery followed by the loss of the preterm child is a stressful event for parents and is frequently associated with psychological distress or even psychiatric morbidity. Little is known as yet about the factors which help parents to cope. The aim of this study was to analyze the most helpful factors for parents during the period of delivery and the death of the child. Methods: At 2-6 years after the death of their premature child (22-26 gestational week) 26 mothers (M) and 25 fathers (F) answered questions on what helped them most to come to terms with the death of their premature child. The answers were analyzed by means of qualitative content analysis. Results: Content analysis highlighted four factors felt to be helpful: about 1/3 of the persons questioned (M=33.6%, F=34.7%) considered good social support to be very helpful. Mothers felt that their personal coping abilities were also very important and mentioned them significantly more often compared to fathers (M=32.7%, F=25.3%). Professional support by the hospital staff was found to be another helpful factor and was cited more often by fathers than by mothers (M=21.5%, F=29.3%). Support by staff in this context did not only refer to medical support but also to empathy and sympathy offered by staff and the manner in which this was communicated. The fourth factor found to be relevant was the existence of other children or the birth of a further child after the loss (M = 12.2%, F = 10.7 %). Conclusions: Good social support appears to be the most important factor helping parents to cope successfully with the loss of their preterm child. Professional support by hospital staff was found to be a very important factor for fathers in helping them to cope with the death of their child. In clinical practice, therefore, special attention should be paid to the communication skills of hospital staff.
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- extremely preterm birth
- bereavement
- professional support
- social support
- qualitative study