Anticipatory Guidance: A Hospital-Based Intervention for Adolescents with Perinatal Loss

Abstract

There are well documented complexities and challenges of pregnancy in the adolescent years. Social workers are usually the front line workers with the adolescent population and are often called to provide bereavement services in a hospital setting. This article describes a pathway for short term intervention in working with adolescents experiencing a perinatal loss and focuses on brief intense anticipatory guidance as the optimal way to provide care under these circumstances. This described approach includes: the developmental level of the adolescent, the receptive posture of the social worker, the adolescent's stage of acceptance of the pregnancy; the meaning of the loss; her emotional strengths; environmental resources and risk factors.

A guide to anticipatory guidance for breastfeeding‐related pain: A concept analysis

“…The term “anticipatory” necessitates the proactive provision of guidance before the event that would require the application of said information 1,11 . However, to be received effectively, the information must be given during a period in which parents can reasonably imagine themselves in the experience 11 .…”

“…There is a well‐documented history of healthcare providers attending to parents' questions regarding all aspects of child rearing. Most recently, providing preventative advice in this context has been termed “anticipatory guidance.” Anticipatory guidance is a clinical skill traditionally used by social workers; however, it has grown to be employed by various healthcare professionals, including family physicians and nurses 1 . Anticipatory guidance can be applied in any situation where patients receive preventative information regarding what they should expect, how to prevent undesired health events from occurring, and how to overcome barriers to their goals.…”