New ultrasound guidelines urge for parent-centred communication

The Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM) has released new guidelines mapping a way forward for sonographers to open dialogue and be more transparent with obstetric patients about the results of their scans.

ASUM Chief Executive Lyndal Macpherson said the guidelines were the result of broad collaboration with a multidisciplinary team including parent groups, patient advocates, sonographers, radiologists and obstetricians, and had a clear priority to improve care for expectant parents by improving communication between them and health professionals, particularly when there are unexpected or ambiguous fetal or maternal findings.

The guidelines build on PhD research by sonographer Dr Samantha Thomas — Sonographers’ level of autonomy in communication in Australian obstetric settings — and feedback from expectant parents who were keen to have reassurance from their sonographer the baby was developing well rather than waiting for their next specialist or midwife appointment.

Macpherson said the guidelines were not mandatory but rather were a first step in opening parent-centred communication in obstetric ultrasound with a focus also on collaboration and continuity of care between sonographers, reporting specialists and referrers. “Opening up clear lines of communication with a set of guidelines that will help public and private settings consider this model really responds to what parents are wanting and improves the health care on offer to patients,” Macpherson said.

“Our pilots in public and private settings have been an overwhelming success. Sonographers are on the frontline conducting these scans and parents are telling us delayed communication from the day of the scan until the next time they see a doctor concerns them.

“This is not only about communicating findings with parents but also equipping sonographers to share their communication with the reporting doctor so there is a clear understanding of the information being shared across all professionals in the care team.

“Ongoing management of a complicated diagnosis will of course sit with the doctor–patient relationship, but our new guidelines can support sonographers to start a clear, unambiguous, compassionate and judgement-free communication process that is sensitive to the parent journey.”

Parent-centred communication in obstetric ultrasound has trialled in Fiona Stanley Public Hospital, Perth, and PRP Diagnostic Imaging — Eastwood, NSW, with a high rate of parent and clinician satisfaction.

“When forming organisational policies — public facilities and private radiology and obstetric practices may refer to ASUM’s Parent-Centred Communication in Obstetric Ultrasound Guidelines to consider implementing new ways of working with sonographers and parents,” Macpherson said.

The Pink Elephants Support Network consulted closely on the guidelines and board member Dr Melanie Keep said after the loss of her own baby at 11 weeks in 2019, she was moved to ensure other women experienced more open and supportive communication when faced with unexpected and sometimes traumatic pregnancy news.

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