Parents' Experience of Child Loss During Pregnancy or Birth

Recruiting

• Conditions: Stillbirth and Fetal Death; Miscarriages; Experience

• Registration Number: NCT06771661
• Lead Sponsor: Fritz Sterr

Brief Summary

The investigators are conducting a participatory study with and for parents after child loss during pregnancy or birth. Their aim is to develop treatment recommendations for healthcare professional. These focus on question, how to deal with parents when experiencing child loss.

Detailed Description

The entire study is following a participatory approach and including parents after stillbirth in the research team. Along a co-creative design, the investigators planned a multistep-explorative mixed-methods study.

In detail, three key steps will be conducted. First, workshops and focus groups will be carried out to identify central needs of affected parents. Afterwards, one investigator will interview the parents narratively to gain an in-depth understanding of their experiencs. Finally, these findings will be summarized and translated into treatment recommendations for healthcare professionals.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-12-02
• Study First Submitted: 2024-12-19
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-01-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-07
• Study First Posted: 2025-01-13
• Last Update Posted: 2025-01-13
• Primary Completion: 2025-12
• Study Completion: 2026-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• German speaking
• Living in Austria, Germany or Switzerland
• Child loss during pregnancy or birth
• Child loss within last 12 months
• Legal capacity
• Voluntary participation

Exclusion Criteria

• Loss of child after birth
• Not speaking and understanding German
• Not in a good mental condition to participate

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Parent's experience	During pregnancy and up to 7 days after birth	The investigators are interested in parents' in-depth and lived experience before and during their intrauterine or perinatal child loss.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Parents' subjective needs	During pregnancy and up to 7 days after birth	In qualitative interviews, the subjective needs that parents developed before and during their intrauterine or perinatal child loss will be investigated.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Faculty of Applied Healthcare Sciences; 🇩🇪 Deggendorf, Bavaria, Germany