Helpful phrases drawing on the SPIKES framework6 to counsel parents
| SETTING UP the interview | Consider the location and ensure all appropriate participants are present and briefed beforehand. |
| Assessing the patient's PERCEPTION | ‘Tell me about your pregnancy. What have you been told?’ |
| Obtaining the patient's INVITATION | ‘Would you like to talk about what might happen during labour and after your baby is born?’ |
| Giving KNOWLEDGE and information to the patient | Break information into small chunks and focus on key messages. Occasionally check if the patient understands. ‘Is this clear so far?’ |
| Addressing EMOTIONS with empathic responses (these can be family or MDT emotions) | ‘I wish that these results were different…’ ‘I can't imagine how difficult this news must have been to hear’ ‘What is most important to you?’ ‘What worries you the most?’ |
| Strategy and summary | ‘What would you like to ask?’ Follow up with a letter |