WIP 46 - Expectations in Focus: Understanding Attending Perspectives on Antenatal Consults

Publication Number: WIP 46.7568

Michelle Bartlett, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Mackenzie Frost, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Ardmore, PA, United States

Background: Antenatal counseling (AC) for parents expecting preterm delivery is vital in neonatal-perinatal medicine. Trainees learn AC by observing senior providers and conducting supervised consultations, but there is a significant gap in understanding how attending neonatologists view the goals of these consultations. Previous studies indicate that current practices may not meet parental communication needs. We suspect that attendings have varying interpretations of AC purposes, resulting in inconsistent and at times contradictory education for fellows. To develop an effective curriculum and evaluation system, we must first assess how consultations are modeled at our institution. This ensures consistent training for fellows and enhances family satisfaction during initial interactions with the neonatology team.

Objective: Our aim is to explore attending neonatologists' perspectives on the goals and purposes of AC, focusing on perceived priorities and potential differences among colleagues. We will contextualize these insights within existing literature on family perspectives to enrich our understanding of AC dynamics.

Design/Methods: Using qualitative methods, we will conduct focus groups grounded in symbolic interactionism theory at a large academic center with Level III and IV neonatal care facilities. Each group will consist of 3-5 attending neonatologists who perform AC. We will employ multiple sampling strategies, including key informant, snowball, and convenience sampling, to recruit participants. An interview guide will be developed based on literature review, expert collaboration, and preliminary national survey data. Sessions will be recorded and transcribed, with analysis conducted using reflexive thematic analysis to allow research themes to evolve. By utilizing a framework based on symbolic interactionism, we aim to understand how social interactions shape neonatologists' perceptions of prenatal consultation goals. IRB exemption has been obtained and focus group interviews are scheduled to begin in early 2025.