Neonatologists' Resuscitation Decisions at Birth for Extremely Premature Infants. A Belgian Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Deciding whether initiating or withholding resuscitation at birth for extremely preterm infants (EPIs) can be difficult due to uncertainty on outcomes. Clinical uncertainty generates ethical uncertainty. Thus, physicians' attitudes and perspectives on resuscitation of EPIs might influence resuscitation decisions. We aimed at understanding how neonatologists make clinical-ethical decisions for EPI resuscitation and how they perceive these decisions.

Methods

We performed a qualitative study using a constructivist account of grounded theory. Face-to-face, semi-structured in-depth interviews with neonatologists comprised data collection. For data analysis, we used the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven.

Results

We interviewed 20 neonatologists working in 10 ho

SUBMITTER: Cavolo A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8989134 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature