Table 1 The interview questionnaire and preferences of the Saudi mothers (n = 402) about breaking bad news (BBN) concerning their newborns
| Interview Questionnaire | Preferences* | Kendall's W test |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The BBN process should initially involve whom? | ||
| A. Myself and my husband together in the same setting. | 64% (60-69) |
0.29 Weak agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. My husband first, and he will decide about the process of BBN to me. | 17% (13-21) | |
| C. Myself first. | 16% (13-20) | |
| D. The most responsible physician should decide. | 3% (2-5) | |
| 2. Would you agree if your husband requested to disclose the bad news to you through him in order to minimize your trauma? ¶ | ||
| A. Yes. | 24% (20-29) |
0.27 Weak agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. No. | 76% (72-81) | |
| 3. How best should the BBN be delivered? | ||
| A. In person. | 88% (85-91) |
0.58 Moderate agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. In person or over the phone. | 12% (9-16) | |
| 4. When would you prefer the BBN to be? | ||
| A. Early on, as soon as the bad news was identified. | 79% (75-83) |
0.48 Moderate agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. The next day during routine postnatal rounds. | 16% (12-20) | |
| C. The most responsible physician should decide. | 5% (3-7) | |
| 5. By whom would you like to be informed if the most responsible physician is not on-site, such as outside regular working hours? ‡ | ||
| A. The most responsible physician, even if BBN needs to be postponed to the next day until he/she will be around. | 50% (44-56) |
0.14 Very weak agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. Any physician who has a good understanding of the disease. | 41% (35-47) | |
| C. The most responsible physician should decide. | 9% (6-13) | |
| 6. How detailed do you prefer BBN to be? | ||
| A. Detailed. | 81% (77-85) |
0.52 Moderate agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. Brief. | 16% (13-20) | |
| C. The most responsible physician should decide. | 3% (2-5) | |
| 7. How do you prefer the details to be communicated to you? § | ||
| A. All at once during the first meeting. | 58% (52-63) |
0.03 Very weak agreement p = 0.005 |
| B. Gradually. | 42% (37-48) | |
| 8. Do you prefer the BBN meeting to be quiet and free even from minor distractions, such as the informer answering non-urgent pager/phone calls? | ||
| A. Yes. | 86% (83-90) |
0.53 Moderate agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. Neutral. | 14% (11-18) | |
| 9. Do you prefer during BBN to have close bodily contact with your baby such as holding him/her in your lap? | ||
| A. Yes. | 66% (61-70) |
0.10 Very weak agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. No. | 34% (30-39) | |
| 10. Do you prefer during BBN that one of your relatives or friends be there as a support person? | ||
| A. Yes. | 56% (51-61) |
0.01 Very weak agreement p = 0.02 |
| B. No. | 44% (39-49) | |
| 11. Would you prefer during BBN that no another patient or his/her relatives be present? | ||
| A. Yes. | 64% (59-68) |
0.08 Very weak agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. Neutral. | 36% (32-41) | |
| 12. Would you agree to detail in advance your preferences regarding the process of BBN by giving a reversible, written informed consent which will be kept in your medical record and utilized as guidance if needed? | ||
| A. Yes. | 80% (76-84) |
0.36 Moderate agreement p < 0.001 |
| B. No. | 20% (16-24) |