Journal
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD
Volume 103, Issue 6, Pages 572-+Publisher
BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-314424
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Funding
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment [14/168/02]
- NHIR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre
- Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital
- NIHR
- National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR) [CDF-2017-10-037] Funding Source: National Institutes of Health Research (NIHR)
- Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity [V0117] Funding Source: researchfish
- National Institute for Health Research [14/168/02, CDF-2017-10-037, NIHR-CS-012-002, NF-SI-0513-10046, NF-SI-0513-10141] Funding Source: researchfish
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Objective To assess health professionals' and coroners' attitudes towards non-minimally and minimally invasive autopsy in the perinatal and paediatric setting. Methods A qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Data were analysed thematically. Results Twenty-five health professionals (including perinatal/paediatric pathologists and anatomical pathology technologists, obstetricians, fetal medicine consultants and bereavement midwives, intensive care consultants and family liaison nurses, a consultant neonatologist and a paediatric radiologist) and four coroners participated. Participants viewed less invasive methods of autopsy as a positive development in prenatal and paediatric care that could increase autopsy rates. Several procedural and psychological benefits were highlighted including improved diagnostic accuracy in some circumstances, potential for faster turnaround times, parental familiarity with imaging and laparoscopic approaches, and benefits to parents and faith groups who object to invasive approaches. Concerns around the limitations of the technology such not reaching the same levels of certainty as full autopsy, unsuitability of imaging in certain circumstances, the potential for missing a diagnosis (or misdiagnosis) and de-skilling the workforce were identified. Finally, a number of implementation issues were raised including skills and training requirements for pathologists and radiologists, access to scanning equipment, required computational infrastructure, need for a multidisciplinary approach to interpret results, cost implications, equity of access and acceptance from health professionals and hospital managers. Conclusion Health professionals and coroners viewed less invasive autopsy as a positive development in perinatal and paediatric care. However, to inform implementation a detailed health economic analysis and further exploration of parental views, particularly in different religious groups, are required.
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