Abstract
BackgroundMiscarriage represents a traumatic event for many women, and it may result in the development of long- and short- term psychological difficulties such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To date, there is a lack of evidence exploring women’s perceptions of factors impacting their emotional wellbeing. In particular, there are no research informed guidelines on how best to support women who experience miscarriage in hospital settings in Northern Ireland. This study aims to address this gap by exploring the emotional needs and experiences of women who attend hospital facilities due to miscarriage in Northern Ireland.
Methodology
The study adopted a sequential mixed-methods approach informed by two complementary frameworks: 1) the Medical Research Council’s Framework for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions, and 2) the Intervention Mapping (IM) approach to the development of health promotion interventions. The study involved a scoping review of the international literature, an online survey of 723 women who had experienced miscarriage, semi-structured interviews with 20 women; and written narrative accounts provided by 8 women and 24 with health professionals in Northern Ireland.
Data collection and analysis took place during two phases. Phase 1 involved an online survey circulated using social media. Findings from Phase 1 informed the development of data collection tools for Phase 2, which included qualitative interviews and narrative accounts. Inferential and descriptive statistics were generated from quantitative data using SPSS. Thematic analysis was performed on the 2 open-ended survey questions and women’s interview data and narrative accounts. Content Analysis was carried out on some of the free text survey questions and narrative accounts completed by HPs.
Results
13
The study provided considerations for health professionals on how to best support women who experience miscarriage in hospital settings, and recommendations for researchers designing interventions to help meet women’s emotional needs. Women reported that some health professionals’ attitudes lacked compassion and did not address their worries and fears when presenting with symptoms of miscarriage. Provision of information was perceived as inadequate to prepare women to deal with the aftermaths of miscarriage. Women needed time to absorb the news of miscarriage before moving to discuss their care options and to receive more information around management of miscarriage. Satisfaction with emotional support might reduce levels of distress and prevent the development of psychological complications.
Study results showed that health professionals do not always feel trained and comfortable to care for women who experience miscarriage. This study reveals the need for further interventions to develop educational training to support health professionals around the topic of pregnancy loss. Further research should focus on the creation of practical tool kits such as evidence-based leaflets and booklets HPs could use to deliver such information. There remains a lack of evidence-based training on pregnancy loss, especially at a university level, and there are a lack of studies involving men and same sex couples to gain their perspectives on how they should be supported by health professionals during their partner’s miscarriage.
Thesis is embargoed until 31 December 2026.
| Date of Award | Dec 2023 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
|
| Sponsors | Northern Ireland Department for the Economy |
| Supervisor | Áine Aventin (Supervisor), Gary Mitchell (Supervisor) & Mark Tomlinson (Supervisor) |