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? | Â | Â |
   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? | Â | Â |
   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? | Â | Â |
   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? | Â | Â |
   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? | Â | Â |
   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? | Â | Â |
   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? | Â | Â |
   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? | Â | Â |
   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? | Â | Â |
   A. Yes. | 80% (76-84) | 0.36 Moderate agreement p < 0.001 |
   B. No. | 20% (16-24) |  |