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iHV Delivering Different News Webinar | 04/03/22

The first 1001 days, from conception to the time a child reaches two years of age, are critical for their physical, emotional and cognitive development. When it is identified that a baby has a disability or illness during this period, it can present as a different parenting journey from the usual expectations. Delivering this type of different news to parents must be done sensitively and compassionately by professionals.

What will the webinar cover?

In this webinar, we share research findings on different approaches to delivering different news which will equip healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to ensure parents are supported with care, compassion and sensitivity when they need it the most.

Speakers:

• Dr Esther Mugweni
• Dr Judith Johnson
• Angie Emrys Jones

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Further questions and answers from the DDN webinar can be found below:
Q1) Is there published practice guidance on delivering different news?

There is published guidelines for ultrasound – the summary article which links to the full guidelines document is here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1742271X20935911. This is also now referenced in BMUS and SCoR policy: https://www.sor.org/learning-advice/professional-body-guidance-and-publications/documents-and-publications/policy-guidance-document-library/sor-and-bmus-guidelines-for-professional-ultrasoun (p.159)

Q2) How do you ensure sonographers’ own perspectives about living with certain conditions do not negatively influence their conversation when something is detected?

This is a really insightful question, which recognises the reality that we are all influenced by our own lived experiences. I think the person who asked this question has already done the most important thing – which is to recognise that our experiences can influence how we communicate with others. Having this awareness is crucial because it enables us to recognise our behaviours and to take a step back from these mentally. Once we have done this, we can consciously try to use neutral behaviours – employing the use of neutral language (as outlined in the INDIRA guidelines) and focusing on the provision of information (e.g., about what is visible on the scan, what isn’t, what will happen next and any signposting information) rather than providing advice or asking expectant parents to make any decisions. The sonographer who asked this question is clearly very dedicated to their role and to providing their patients with the best care, which will be felt by the expectant parents they are scanning.

Q3) Are there differences in perspectives on receiving different news between those that *have* received different news and those that *haven’t*?

This is a very good research question! Dr Johnson is not aware of any studies that have looked at this directly, but in her research with expectant parents, what is clear is that the news delivery moment is, for them, a turning point. It sets them off on a journey of new emotions, new discoveries and new experiences. For this reason, I think it is very likely that there are differences in the perspectives between those with and without lived experience of receiving different news. As a researcher, for me, this highlights the importance of involving those with lived experience in any quality improvement project.