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Information Order for Periviable Counseling: Does It Make a Difference? J Pediatr 2021 Aug;235:100-106.e1

Date

04/04/2021

Pubmed ID

33811868

Pubmed Central ID

PMC8316277

DOI

10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.03.058

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85110136409 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   8 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the order of presenting survival vs disability information, with or without the description of infant neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experiences would influence treatment choice during hypothetical periviable birth counseling.

STUDY DESIGN: An internet sample of childbearing-aged women (n = 839) viewed a pictograph displaying the chances of survival and a pictograph on the chances of disability for a baby resuscitated during the periviable period. The sample was randomized to the order of pictographs and level of description of infant NICU experiences. Participants selected between intensive care or comfort care and reported their personal values.

RESULTS: The order of the information influenced treatment choices (P = .02); participants were more likely to choose intensive care if they saw the survival pictograph first (70%) than the disability pictograph first (62%). Level of description of premature infant NICU experiences did not influence treatment choice (P = .92). Participants who valued sanctity of life, autonomy in making decisions, who were more religious, and had adequate health literacy were more likely to choose intensive care. Such participant characteristics had greater explanatory power than the experimental manipulations.

CONCLUSIONS: Subtle differences in how information is presented may influence critical decisions. However, even among women with the same values, diversity in treatment choice remains.

Author List

McDonnell S, Yan K, Kim UO, Flynn KE, Liegl MN, Leuthner SR, McIntosh JJ, Basir MA

Authors

Mir Abdul Basir MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Kathryn Eve Flynn PhD Vice Chair, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Steven R. Leuthner MD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Jennifer Jury Mcintosh DO Associate Professor in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Ke Yan PhD Associate Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Counseling
Critical Care
Decision Making
Female
Fetal Viability
Humans
Infant, Extremely Premature
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Mothers
Patient Education as Topic
Personal Autonomy
Pregnancy
Quality of Life
Religion
Value of Life