Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T03:15:32.288Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

“Why and how did this happen?”: development and evaluation of an information resource for parents of children with CHD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2020

Alexis V. Hunt
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, Australia
Desiree C. K. Hilton
Affiliation:
Heart Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia
Charlotte E. Verrall
Affiliation:
Heart Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia
Kristine K. Barlow-Stewart
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, Australia
Jane Fleming
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine and Health, Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney, St Leonards, Australia
David S. Winlaw
Affiliation:
Heart Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Gillian M. Blue*
Affiliation:
Heart Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Gillian Blue, Heart Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW2145, Australia. Tel: +61 9845 2345; Fax: +61 9845 3275; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Background:

The causes of CHD are complex and often unknown, leading parents to ask how and why this has happened. Genetic counselling has been shown to benefit these parents by providing information and support; however, most parents currently do not receive this service. This study aimed to develop a brochure to determine whether an information resource could improve parents’ knowledge about CHD causation and inheritance and increase psychosocial functioning.

Methods:

In development, the resource was assessed against several readability scales and piloted. Parents of children attending preadmission clinic for surgery were included. Assessments occurred pre- and post-receiving the information resource using a purpose-designed knowledge measure and validated psychological measures.

Results:

Participant’s (n = 52) knowledge scores increased significantly from the pre-questionnaire ( ${\overline x}\, = \,5/10$ , sd = 2.086) to post-questionnaire ( $\overline x\, = \,7.88/10$ , sd = 2.094, p < 0.001), with all aware that CHD can be caused by genetic factors after reading the brochure. Perceived personal control also increased from pre- ( $\overline x\, = \,11.856/18$ , sd = 4.339) to post-brochure ( $\overline x\, = \,14.644/18$ , sd = 3.733, p < 0.001), and many reported reduced feelings of guilt. No negative emotional response to the brochure was reported. The information provided was considered relevant (88%), reassuring (86%), and 88% would recommend the brochure to other parents. However, some wanted more emotional support and assistance in what to tell their child.

Conclusions:

Use of the information resource significantly enhanced parents’ knowledge of CHD causation and increased their psychosocial functioning. It is a valuable resource in the absence of genetic counselling; however, it should not replace formal genetic counselling when required.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2020

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Zaidi, S, Brueckner, M. Genetics and genomics of congenital heart disease. Circ Res 2017; 120: 923940.10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.309140CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hoffman, JI, Kaplan, S. The incidence of congenital heart disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2002; 39: 18901900.10.1016/S0735-1097(02)01886-7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blue, GM, Kirk, EP, Sholler, GF, Harvey, RP, Winlaw, DS. Congenital heart disease: current knowledge about causes and inheritance. Med J Aust 2012; 197: 155159.10.5694/mja12.10811CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khairy, P, Ionescu-Ittu, R, Mackie, AS, Abrahamowicz, M, Pilote, L, Marelli, AJ. Changing mortality in congenital heart disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010; 56: 11491157.10.1016/j.jacc.2010.03.085CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van Engelen, K, Baars, MJH, van Rongen, LT, van der Velde, ET, Mulder, BJM, Smets, EMA. Adults with congenital heart disease: patients’ knowledge and concerns about inheritance. Am J Med Genet A 2011; 155: 16611667.10.1002/ajmg.a.34068CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marelli, AJ, Ionescu-Ittu, R, Mackie, AS, Guo, L, Dendukuri, N, Kaouache, M. Lifetime prevalence of congenital heart disease in the general population from 2000 to 2010. Circulation 2014; 130: 749756.10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.008396CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Azhar, M, Ware, SM. Genetic and developmental basis of cardiovascular malformations. Clin Perinatol 2016; 43: 3953.10.1016/j.clp.2015.11.002CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bijanzadeh, M. The recurrence risk of genetic complex diseases. J Res Med Sci 2017; 22: 32.10.4103/1735-1995.202143CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blue, GM, Kirk, EP, Giannoulatou, E, et al.Advances in the genetics of congenital heart disease: a clinician’s guide. J Am Coll Cardiol 2017; 69: 859870.10.1016/j.jacc.2016.11.060CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dykes, JC, Al-mousily, MF, Abuchaibe, EC, et al.The incidence of chromosome abnormalities in neonates with structural heart disease. Heart 2016; 102: 634637.10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308650CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kasparian, NA, Fidock, B, Sholler, GF, et al.Parents’ perceptions of genetics services for congenital heart disease: the role of demographic, clinical, and psychological factors in determining service attendance. Genet Med 2014; 16: 460468.10.1038/gim.2013.169CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blue, GM, Kasparian, NA, Sholler, GF, Kirk, EP, Winlaw, DS. Genetic counselling in parents of children with congenital heart disease significantly improves knowledge about causation and enhances psychosocial functioning. Int J Cardiol 2015; 178: 124130.10.1016/j.ijcard.2014.10.119CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doherty, N, McCusker, CG, Molloy, B, et al.Predictors of psychological functioning in mothers and fathers of infants born with severe congenital heart disease. J Reprod Infant Psychol 2009; 27: 390400.10.1080/02646830903190920CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chessa, M, De Rosa, G, Pardeo, M, et al.What do parents know about the malformations afflicting the hearts of their children? Cardiol Young 2005; 15: 125129.10.1017/S1047951105000284CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moons, P, De Volder, E, Budts, W, et al.What do adult patients with congenital heart disease know about their disease, treatment, and prevention of complications? A call for structured patient education. Heart 2001; 86: 7480.10.1136/heart.86.1.74CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sable, C, Foster, E, Uzark, K, et al.Best practices in managing transition to adulthood for adolescents with congenital heart disease: the transition process and medical and psychosocial issues. Circulation 2011; 123: 14541485.10.1161/CIR.0b013e3182107c56CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kasparian, NA, De Abreu Lourenco, R, Winlaw, DS, Sholler, GF, Viney, R, Kirk, EPE. Tell me once, tell me soon: parents’ preferences for clinical genetics services for congenital heart disease. Genet Med 2018; 20: 13871395.10.1038/gim.2018.16CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jackson, R, Baird, W, Davis-Reynolds, L, Smith, C, Blackburn, S, Allsebrook, J. Qualitative analysis of parents’ information needs and psychosocial experiences when supporting children with health care needs. Health Info Libr J 2008; 25: 3137.10.1111/j.1471-1842.2007.00736.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mc Laughlin, GH. SMOG grading-a new readability formula. J Read 1969; 12: 639646.Google Scholar
Crossley, SA, Allen, DB, McNamara, DS. Text readability and intuitive simplification: a comparison of readability formulas. Read Foreign Language 2011; 23: 86101.Google Scholar
Hoffmann, T, Worrall, L. Designing effective written health education materials: considerations for health professionals. Disabil Rehabil 2004; 26: 11661173.10.1080/09638280410001724816CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wakefield, CE, Meiser, B, Homewood, J, et al.Development and pilot testing of two decision aids for individuals considering genetic testing for cancer risk. J Genet Couns 2007; 16: 325339.10.1007/s10897-006-9068-xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berkenstadt, M, Shiloh, S, Barkai, G, Katznelson, MBM, Goldman, B. Perceived personal control (PPC): a new concept in measuring outcome of genetic counseling. Am J Med Genet 1999; 82: 5359.10.1002/(SICI)1096-8628(19990101)82:1<53::AID-AJMG11>3.0.CO;2-#3.0.CO;2-#>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Davey, A, Rostant, K, Harrop, K, Goldblatt, J, O’Leary, P. Evaluating genetic counseling: client expectations, psychological adjustment and satisfaction with service. J Genet Couns 2005; 14: 197206.10.1007/s10897-005-0519-6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, HS. Research trends in mothers’ health information seeking behaviors: a review of the literature. Proc Assoc Inf Sci Technol 2016; 53: 16.Google Scholar
Alankarage, D, Ip, E, Szot, JO, et al.Identification of clinically actionable variants from genome sequencing of families with congenital heart disease. Genet Med 2019; 21: 11111120.10.1038/s41436-018-0296-xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shiloh, S, Berkenstadt, M, Meiran, N, Bat-Miriam-Katznelson, M, Goldman, B. Mediating effects of perceived personal control in coping with a health threat: the case of genetic counseling. J Appl Soc Psychol 1997; 27: 11461174.10.1111/j.1559-1816.1997.tb01799.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arya, B, Glickstein, JS, Levasseur, SM, Williams, IA. Parents of children with congenital heart disease prefer more information than cardiologists provide. Congenit 2013; 8: 7885.10.1111/j.1747-0803.2012.00706.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Supplementary material: PDF

Hunt et al. supplementary material

Hunt et al. supplementary material

Download Hunt et al. supplementary material(PDF)
PDF 601.5 KB