Physician's responsibility to parents after death of an infant. Beneficial outcome of a telephone call
R. L. Schreiner, E. L. Gresham and M. Green
The effectiveness of a telephone call to the parents after the death of an
infant has been assessed. Eleven parents who had received no formal contact
after the death of their infant were interviewed at the hospital eight to
25 weeks (mean, 18 weeks) after than crisis. Eighteen other parents whose
infants died were called three to 19 days (mean, nine days) after the
death. The call lasted 26 minutes (range, 15 to 40 minutes). These parents
were also interviewed at the hospital at nine to 27 weeks (mean, 15 weeks)
after the death. Nine different problems were evaluated. Three of the 18
families who received a call had ten moderate or major problems compared
with the 36 moderately severe or major problems in all 11 control families.
This study documents the beneficial outcome of a telephone call in
ameliorating emotional problems in the parents.
