Carvalho, CarmenVale, AnaMagalhães, Susana2020Carvalho , C , Vale , A & Magalhães , S 2020 , ' Communication and Decision Making in Neonatal Intensive Care: Why Narrative Medicine Matters. Qualitative Research: Practices and Challenges ' , Default journal .1646-3730Through this study, the researchers aimed to answer the question: what do parents’ and healthcare professionals’ narratives tell about communication and decision making in the NICU? There was a special focus on ethical issues and intervenients’ perceptions, feelings and emotions. This purpose is supported on the assumption that the analysis of such discourse, with special attention to the use of metaphors and images, is an important tool to identify barriers to a trustful and empowering relationship between health professionals and parents at the NICU.Objective: This paper aims to analyse parents’ and health professionals’ discourse, regarding four main areas: (1) the experience of care; (2) communication among all stakeholders; (3) ethical issues; (4) and ethical decision-making. Methodology: The authors collected 62 narratives from health professionals and parents whose newborns have been hospitalized for at least 15 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We carried out a qualitative content analysis with the support of NVivo software version 12 Pro. Results: The feelings/emotions are present in a high percentage of narratives (mostly negative ones). Parents´ learning emphasizes coping strategies. Most narratives focus on communicational aspects. Decision-making is referred to in almost half of the narratives. The ethical issues and questions mentioned are mainly related to decision-making. Conclusion: The present study emphasizes narrative relevance in the alignment of parents´ and health professionals´ perspectives to promote therapeutic relationships.application/pdfengopenAccessMEDICINACOMUNICAÇÃOTOMADA DE DECISÃOCUIDADOS INTENSIVOS NEONATAISCUIDADOS INTENSIVOSMEDICINECOMMUNICATIONDECISION MAKINGNEONATAL INTENSIVE CAREINTENSIVE CAREarticle