Physician-patient communication. Understanding congenital heart disease
G. G. Kaden, R. J. McCarter, S. F. Johnson and C. Ferencz
Mothers' descriptions of their childrens' congenital heart disease were
compared with cardiologists' diagnoses. Maternal understanding was examined
with respect to 21 factors using bivariate contingency tables and multiple
regression analyses. Of 285 mothers, 36% demonstrated poor comprehension.
Maternal understanding was associated with sociodemographic variables but
not with factors related to stress. All variables taken in concert that
were predictive of understanding explained less than 13% of the variability
in maternal knowledge. Distorted perceptions of congenital heart disease
may cause unnecessary anxieties, inappropriate restrictions, and impairment
of the child's self-perception. The bizarre nature of some of the mothers'
incorrect descriptions and the accuracy of responses of mothers in biologic
and health care occupations suggest that fundamental ignorance of the
cardiovascular system may be of such importance as to minimize the impact
of other variables.
