Research Article

DSD and Professionalism from a Multilateral View: Supplementing the Consensus Statement on the Basis of a Qualitative Survey

Table 2

Summary of resulting categories concerning professionalism on DSD.

Different views on professionalismThemesQuotations ( )

Child-oriented professionalismAwareness of the importance of development21
Attention to a growing child’s quality of life and physical as well as psychosocial integrity10
Ability to recognize therapeutically induced harm and to balance it with evidence-based benefits13
Compassion and empathy based on understanding a child's reaction and sensitivity regarding differences between children's and adult’s perspectives25

Family-oriented professionalismAppreciate the importance of relationships17
Multilateral interactions between child, parents, professionals, and support groups23
Skills to identify and integrate parents’ reactions, values, and needs and the ability to coordinate adequate support and interventions37
Ability to support parental empowerment, coping and resilience23

Shared-decision-oriented professionalismDevelopment and ongoing adjustment of treatment plan in close collaboration with patient and parents and based on their assent/consent14
Awareness and communication of all available or missing evidence concerning treatment and outcome26
Awareness of one's own values, feelings, and influence19
Sensibility and avoidance of unnecessary medicalization37

Quality-oriented professionalismAbility to acknowledge, evaluate, communicate, and improve substandard quality18
Limiting certain interventions to centers and experts with necessary experience and skills14