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Acceptable Nomenclature for Pregnancy Loss Care: A Cross-Sectional Observational Survey
Beth Malory1, Louise Nuttall1,2, Alexander E P Heazell3,4
1Survey of English Usage, University College London, London, UK.
Objective:
To conduct a pilot study evaluating the acceptability of pregnancy loss nomenclature among people with recent lived experience and make recommendations for UK mass communication.
Design:
Electronic internet-based questionnaire.
Setting:
UK.
Population Or Sample:
Service users who accessed UK healthcare for > 1 experience(s) of pregnancy loss between 2021 and 2024 (n = 391).
Methods:
Descriptive and inferential statistics.
Main Outcome Measures:
Acceptability ratings for pregnancy loss nomenclature used diagnostically in UK healthcare settings.
Results:
Much nomenclature currently in use in UK pregnancy loss care was rated 'unacceptable' by a majority of study participants. Spontaneous abortion, incompetent cervix, and cervical incompetence were among the terminology rated as 'unacceptable' by > 80.0% of the respondents rating terms for the process of loss. In contrast, pregnancy loss and ectopic pregnancy were rated 'acceptable' by > 80.0% of respondents. As nomenclature for pregnancy loss outcomes, products, contents of the womb/uterus, and tissue were rated 'unacceptable' by > 80.0% of respondents. Baby and 'their given name' were rated 'acceptable' by > 80.0% of respondents across all gestational age brackets. Some terminology elicited mixed acceptability ratings.
Conclusions:
Some pregnancy loss nomenclature attracted consensus acceptability or unacceptability ratings for respondents. The data inform evidence-based recommended alternatives, which should be adopted for mass communications relating to pregnancy loss.
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