Premium
The impact of stillbirth on consultant obstetrician gynaecologists: a qualitative study
Author(s) -
Nuzum D,
Meaney S,
O'Donoghue K
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/1471-0528.12695
Subject(s) - obstetrics and gynaecology , feeling , qualitative research , superordinate goals , interpretative phenomenological analysis , medicine , obstetrics , psychology , nursing , family medicine , medical education , pregnancy , sociology , social psychology , social science , genetics , biology
Objective To explore the personal and professional impact of stillbirth on consultant obstetrician gynaecologists. Design Semi‐structured in‐depth qualitative interviews. Setting A tertiary university maternity hospital in I reland with a birth rate of c . 9000 per annum and a stillbirth rate of 4.6/1000. Sample Purposive sample of eight consultant obstetrician gynaecologists (50% of consultant obstetrician gynaecologists in the hospital). Methods Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews analysed by I nterpretative P henomenological A nalysis. ( IPA ) IPA is a methodology for exploring human experience and its meaning for the individual. Main outcome measures The lived experiences, personal feelings and professional impact of stillbirth on consultant obstetrician gynaecologists. Results Stillbirth was identified as amongst the most difficult experiences for consultants. Two superordinate themes emerged: the human response to stillbirth and the weight of responsibility. The human response to stillbirth was characterised by the personal impact of stillbirth for consultants and, in turn, how that shapes the care they provide. The weight of professional responsibility was characterised by the sense of professional burden and the possibility of a medico‐legal challenge—mostly for those who are primarily gynaecologists resulting in the question ‘what have I missed?’. Conclusions Despite the impact of stillbirth, no consultant has received formal training in perinatal bereavement care. This study highlights a gap in training and the significant impact of stillbirth on obstetricians, professionally and personally. The provision of support, ongoing education, bereavement training and self‐care is recommended. Medico‐legal concerns following stillbirth potentially impact on care, warranting further research.