Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.
Pediatrics. 2011 Apr;127(4):e1013-20. doi: 10.1542/peds.2009-2027. Epub 2011 Mar 14.
In this study we explored parental views of their child's autopsy, their experiences with autopsy-related processes, and the impact of the examination on their grief.
A survey design with a mailed questionnaire was used. The inclusion criteria were that an autopsy had been performed on the child and it was at least 3 months since his or her death. The questionnaire consisted of nonidentifying demographic details about the child, a standardized grief measure (parts A and B of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief), and 28 questions with response sets and opportunities for comment. Fifty-three parents participated.
Our findings suggest a complexity of perceptions associated with pediatric autopsy examination. A distinction was identified between the informational and altruistic benefits of autopsy and its supportive qualities. Ninety percent of parents valued autopsy as a means of finding out why their child died, and 77% appreciated its contribution to medical knowledge. The general unequivocal helpfulness for bereaved parents commonly ascribed to autopsy examinations was not found. Parents expressed uncertainty about their perceptions of autopsy. Forty-one percent of the parents felt that it helped them live with their loss and 30% found it a comfort, whereas 42% of the parents felt that their child's autopsy examination added to their grief. The results underscore the necessity for open discussion with parents about the realities of what autopsy can offer them.
Our results add to the knowledge about the meaning of autopsy for grieving parents and challenge some current beliefs.
本研究旨在探讨父母对子女尸检的看法、他们对与尸检相关过程的体验，以及尸检对其悲痛的影响。
采用问卷调查设计，纳入标准为对儿童进行了尸检，且距其死亡至少 3 个月。问卷包括儿童非识别性人口统计学细节、标准化悲痛量表（悲痛修订德州量表的 A、B 部分）和 28 个问题，包括回答选项和评论机会。共有 53 位家长参与。
我们的研究结果表明，儿科尸检检查与认知的复杂性有关。我们区分了尸检的信息和利他效益及其支持性特质。90%的父母认为尸检是了解孩子死因的一种手段，77%的父母赞赏其对医学知识的贡献。普遍认为尸检对悲痛中的父母通常有帮助，但这种看法并未得到证实。家长对尸检的认知存在不确定性。41%的父母认为尸检有助于他们接受失去孩子的现实，30%的父母认为尸检是一种安慰，而 42%的父母则认为尸检增加了他们的悲痛。研究结果强调了与父母进行公开讨论的必要性，讨论尸检能为他们提供什么。
我们的研究结果增加了对尸检对悲痛父母意义的认识，并对一些当前的观念提出了挑战。
