Perceptions of women's feelings about PE

[caryn]

The perception of the gravity of the disease coupled to the little information given during treatment increased fear amongst these women. Health professionals making high risk prenatal assistance more humanised (especially regarding preeclampsia) could facilitate an approach which would take the disease's emotional dimension into account during pregnant and postpartum women's clinical appointments.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20027508

*facepalm*

*headdesk**headdesk**headdesk*

Yes, telling us what's going on would *make it less scary*, kthx.

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[kara]

Nice one! This kind of goes hand in hand with our Survey results about Preeclampsia education reducing morbidity and mortality, right?

[mellybute]

You think? LOL

[jend01]

Yep, I agree. I wish my Docs would have told me more.

[blythe]

Oh my... well, at least we have a study that says so, right? :-D

[beth11]

Sorry, but I'm sitting here cracking up! Scheeze.

[kara]

Heck yeah, Blythe! We can have patients who are getting the run around take this study into their docs office.

[caryn]

Well, we can make it part of our CME.

Seriously, though, who *doesn't* respond well to -- hey, you're dying, but trust me! I have a knife!

[audrey s.]

Yeah, after all, when you're pregnant, you're just "hormonal" and the "fear" isn't of anything "real." I'll join you in the *headdesk*!

Although I will admit, pre-eclampsia is, realistically, SCARY, thankyouverymuch, and emphasizing and teaching the pregnant patient "you can die, women do of this disease, and your baby can die or be significantly injured as a result" is not exactly conducive to keeping those blood pressures down!

[jmom08]

For me, I think the lack of information was scarier than the facts. It was a relief afterward to get statistics and details about PE here, and to talk to my new doctors about why different decisions might have been made, even to realize how much worse it could have been. My feelings were probably influenced by concerns re: medical care generally (family history of medical mistakes), but those last couple of months, I would have given anything to have had someone sit down (without looking at their watch, without one foot out the door) and say, "here is everything we know about the disease and your current symptoms. Here are the reasons I'm recommending XYZ, and here's why I feel it's the least risky course of action for you and baby." At the time, it felt like information was kept from us, and I've never felt more helpless.

Sorry for rant... long way of saying I agree 100% with giving women more information and humanizing treatment!!