“It's Probably Nothing Serious, but…”: Parents' Interpretation of Referral to Pediatric Cardiologists

  • Ronald J. Chenail
  • , Paul E. Douthit
  • , Jerry E. Gale
  • , Jeffrey L. Stormberg
  • , G. H. Morris
  • , Joon M. Park
  • , Somkid Sridaromont
  • , Veronica Schmer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Differences in parents' interpretations of their child's referral for a heart murmur to pediatric cardiologists were investigated. Interviews with 32 families making their initial visits to a heart specialist were studied through the use of discourse analysis. Among the study's areas of investigation were: parents' Requests for reprints should be sent to Ronald J. Chenail, Institute for Systemic Therapy, School of Social Sciences, Nova University, 1776 North Pine Island Road, Suite 200, Plantation, FL 33322. concerns over being told that the heart murmur was not cause for worry, but the physician still felt the need to refer the child to a pediatric cardiologist; parents' doubts whether the referring physician had the expertise necessary to know when a murmur was inconsequential; and parents' uneasiness as to whether they should or should not be concerned over their child's condition. A transcript of an actual referral to a pediatric cardiologist was used to illustrate to physicians how to conduct future referrals for heart murmurs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)165-187
Number of pages23
JournalHealth Communication
Volume2
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1990

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Communication

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