Informational needs of parents of sick neonates.

Sixty-one parents of 43 neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit were interviewed within 3 days of their first conference with the neonatologist to assess their needs for medical information. The conference with the physician and the interview with the investigator were audiotaped. Information given by the physician and information recalled by the parents was categorized and rated by the investigator. The physicians gave very detailed …