Working with practitioners to develop training in peri-natal loss and bereavement: Evaluating three workshops

Area of Science:

• Perinatal medicine
• Bereavement counseling
• Healthcare professional training

Background:

• Perinatal loss is a common yet traumatic event, often overlooked in clinical practice and research.
• Previous pregnancy losses are linked to adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancies, including postnatal depression.
• Inconsistent and inadequate support for grieving families highlights a need for improved healthcare professional guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a series of workshops focused on perinatal loss bereavement care.
• To enhance the skills and confidence of health visitors and midwives in supporting grieving parents.
• To ensure professional practice is informed by evaluated and relevant training interventions.

Main Methods:

• Development of workshops addressing perinatal loss for health visitors and midwives.
• Retrospective formal evaluation of three workshops and their impact on professional practice.
• Implementation of evaluation findings to refine and improve workshop content and delivery.

Main Results:

• Workshops were developed and evaluated, demonstrating a need for structured training in perinatal bereavement.
• The evaluation process provided insights for refining workshop content to better meet professional needs.
• The study ensured the continued relevance of the workshops to current professional practice in perinatal care.

Conclusions:

• Targeted workshops can effectively improve healthcare professionals' capacity to support families experiencing perinatal loss.
• Formal evaluation and iterative development are crucial for creating relevant and impactful professional training.
• Enhanced support for grieving families following perinatal loss is essential for medium and long-term family health.