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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06771661

Parents' Experience of Child Loss During Pregnancy or Birth

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Stillbirth and Fetal Death Abortion, Spontaneous Death Experience Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Fetal Death Miscarriages Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pregnancy Complications Stillbirth Urogenital Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Faculty of Applied Healthcare Sciences

Deggendorf, Bavaria, 94469, Germany

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Workshops

Other

The investigators will conduct workshops with parents to get closer to the main topic.

Focus Group Interviews

Other

The investigators will conduct focus group interviews with parents on their needs before and during child loss.

Narrative interviews

Other

The investigators will conduct narrative interviews with parents to gain an in-depth understanding of their lived experience before and during the intrauterine or perinatal child loss.

Delphi approach

Other

The investigators will carry out a Delphi approach with parents to translate and confirm or revise the findings into treatment recommendations for healthcare professionals.

Primary outcomes

  1. Parent's experience

    Time frame: 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 outcomes

  1. Parents' subjective needs

    Time frame: 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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Fritz Sterr

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Parents' Experience of Child Loss During Pregnancy or Birth - an Explorative, Sequential Mixed-methods Study

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 13, 2025
Registry last updated
Aug 31, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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