An Examination of Physician-Patient Communication in Context of a Spina Bifida Diagnosis

As a result of pregnancy, patients have increased contact with a physician. To complicate matters, learning that an unborn child will be born with an expected disability can increase the number of medical consultations. In this qualitative study, 23 participants were interviewed to describe and explain physician-patient communication in context of learning that a child would be born with an expected disability. Findings suggest patients perceived various forms of information exchange along with experiences in relational communication. Implications for physicians and patients are discussed.