Informing and educating parents about the risks and outcomes of prematurity

Abstract

The current process of educating and informing parents of the concerns and outcomes of premature infants is suboptimal, mostly because of modifiable factors. Proven methods to improve the transference of information are underused. In most institutions, the task to inform and educate parents is left to individual providers. Effective parent-clinician communication depends collectively on parents, clinicians, and the health care systems. Efforts must focus on improving communication and not on decreasing information provided to parents. If done successfully, we might find new and worthy allies in the trenches of the NICU.

Keywords: Counseling; Decision support techniques; Ethics; Infant premature; Parent; Patient education.