It\u27s Nothing Serious, but... : Parents\u27 Interpretations of Referral to Pediatric Cardiologists

Differences in parents\u27 interpretations of their child\u27s 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\u27s areas of investigation were: parents\u27 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\u27 doubts whether the referring physician had the expertise necessary to know when a murmur was inconsequential; and parents\u27 uneasiness as to whether they should or should not be concerned over their chid\u27s 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