Intrapartum fetal death and doctors; A qualitative exploration

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Date
2018
Authors
McNamara, Karen
Meaney, Sarah
O'Donoghue, Keelin
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Wiley
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Abstract
Introduction: The death of an infant during a pregnancy is profoundly traumatic, both for the parents and the involved healthcare professionals. Most research focuses on the impact of antenatal stillbirth with very little research examining the specific impact an intrapartum fetal death has on obstetricians. The aim of this study was to provide an in‐depth qualitative exploration of the attitudes and responses that Irish Obstetricians have following direct involvement with an intrapartum fetal death. Material and methods: Qualitative semi‐ structured interviews were used. Interpretative phenomenology was used for data analysis. The setting was a tertiary university maternity unit in Ireland with 8200 deliveries per year. Ten obstetricians were purposively sampled. The main outcome measures were the attitudes and responses of Irish obstetricians following exposure to an intrapartum death. Results: Obstetricians were profoundly and negatively affected by a personal involvement with an intrapartum death. Analysis of the data revealed two superordinate themes; the doctor as a person, and supporting each other. The doctor as person was characterised by two subordinate themes; emotional impact and frustration. Supporting each other was also characterised by two subordinate themes; an unmet need and incidental support and what might work. Conclusions: Obstetric doctors who are directly involved in an intrapartum death are the second victims of this event and this is something that needs to be acknowledged; by the public, by the healthcare system, by the media and by the doctors themselves. The development of effective emotional support interventions for all obstetricians is highly important.
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Keywords
Intrapartum fetal death , Obstetrician , Staff support system , Emotional stress , Emotional impact
Citation
McNamara, K., Meaney, S. and O'Donoghue, K. (2018) 'Intrapartum fetal death and doctors; A qualitative exploration', Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica, In Press, doi:10.1111/aogs.13354
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© This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: McNamara, K., Meaney, S. and O'Donoghue, K. (2018), Intrapartum fetal death and doctors; A qualitative exploration. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. Accepted Author Manuscript., which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13354. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.