Erin L. Wheeler
Abstract: Congenital Heart Defects: study of initial parental understanding of diagnosis, treatment, and care of the child
Objective. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of information given to parents of children diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD). An additional focus was on parental perceptions of what they felt was useful information to know at the child’s initial diagnosis. With this data, nurses can develop and improve future educational methods and materials for parents.
Method. Eight parents of eight children diagnosed with ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, pulmonic atresia/stenosis, tricuspid atresia, tetralogy of fallot, or transposition of the great arteries/vessels were recruited for participation. Recruitment and participation occurred at the pediatric cardiology clinic at the University of North Carolina Hospital located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Parents completed a five-question survey and gave consent for a brief review of the child’s medical record.
Results and Conclusion. Clinic notes and surveys were analyzed. Parental educational level seemed to be related to understanding of the child’s condition as well as the type of parental response. The length of time since diagnosis also appeared to impact parental response. The type and amount of information provided by healthcare professionals seemed to be influenced by the severity of the heart defect. Overall, each parent reported an adequate and satisfactory understanding of his/her child’s condition.
