Publication
Feasibility and acceptability of prenatal parental palliative care in congenital heart disease: a pilot study
Hock K, Dodenhoff E, Clark M, Patrician P, Landier W, Rice M, Shan L · Pilot and Feasibility Studies · 2026
Background Ductal dependent congenital heart disease (ddCHD) is associated with significant parental anxiety, yet palliative care (PC) support is rarely offered in the prenatal period. While prior studies have evaluated PC postnatally, little is known about feasibility and acceptability of prenatal PC interventions for this population. The purpose of this study is to assess feasibility and acceptability of prenatal PC support sessions (PCSS) for parents whose fetus has been diagnosed with ddCHD requiring neonatal cardiac intervention. Methods This prospective single-center feasibility study enrolled English-speaking parents referred to a pediatric cardiology clinic after fetal echocardiographic diagnosis of ddCHD. Eligible participants were offered monthly prenatal PCSS, in person or via videoconference, led by a dual-certified pediatric critical care and hospice/palliative medicine physician. Feasibility was defined as ≥75% session attendance and very/extremely easy scheduling and attendance ratings; acceptability was defined as ≥75% satisfied/very satisfied ratings. Results Of 26 eligible parents, 15 (58%) (10 mothers, 5 fathers) consented to participate. Sixteen sessions were scheduled; 14 (87.5%) were attended, with median duration of 42 min. Most sessions (75%) occurred via videoconference. Thirteen participants (86.7%) rated scheduling and attendance as “very easy” or “extremely easy.” All attendees rated the sessions as “satisfied” or “very satisfied.” Conclusion Prenatal PC support for families facing a ddCHD diagnosis may be feasible and acceptable, with high rates of participation and satisfaction at a single tertiary care hospital. Larger, multi-center studies are warranted to assess outcomes and develop sustainable models for integrating prenatal PC into congenital heart disease care pathways.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.