Communication between neonatologists and parents when prognosis is uncertain.

Objective: When an infant's prognosis is uncertain, communication between neonatologists and parents surrounding goals of care and decision-making can be challenging. This qualitative study explored communication between neonatologists and parents to discover qualities which may enhance or impede parent-clinician partnership under such difficult circumstances.

Study Design: Guided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Patient Centered Communication framework, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted and analyzed regarding neonatologist and parent perceptions of their communication.