<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Working with bereaved parents is an immense challenge for professionals in the field of perinatal care and requires a high level of knowledge and skill. This article aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Perinatal Loss Care blended educational programme.</p></sec><sec><h3>Methods</h3><p>An evaluative assessment was carried out using a scored questionnaire to gather pre- and post-programme data. Participants were medical and healthcare professionals (n=200) who participated in the programme voluntarily (the Medical Professional/Motivated group and the Others group) or were selected by their employer and for whom attendance was mandatory (the Medical Professional/Non/Motivated group).</p></sec><sec><h3>Results</h3><p>Participants’ perception of their own knowledge and understanding of perinatal bereavement care was significantly higher on completion of the educational programme, proving its effectivity. There was a statistically significant effect on overall score in individual groups of respondents, as well as the whole set (p&lt;0.001), with post-intervention scores higher than pre-intervention scores. No statistically significant differences in overall score were detected before participation in the educational programme in individual groups (p=0.204). Participants from the Medical Professional/Non/Motivated group achieved lower post-intervention scores to a significantly greater extent (p&lt;0.05) and more often perceived the educational programme as being “very difficult” (χ<sup>2</sup>=20.66, df=6, P&lt;0.01) compared to other groups.</p></sec><sec><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The educational programme was assessed as effective. Care of bereaved parents has its specifics and healthcare professionals should possess a basic knowledge of how to provide sensitive care during this time.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionWorking with bereaved parents is an immense challenge for professionals in the field of perinatal care and requires a high level of knowledge and skill. This article aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Perinatal Loss Care blended educational programme.MethodsAn evaluative assessment was carried out using a scored questionnaire to gather pre- and post-programme data. Participants were medical and healthcare professionals (n=200) who participated in the programme voluntarily (the Medical Professional/Motivated group and the Others group) or were selected by their employer and for whom attendance was mandatory (the Medical Professional/Non/Motivated group).ResultsParticipants’ perception of their own knowledge and understanding of perinatal bereavement care was significantly higher on completion of the educational programme, proving its effectivity. There was a statistically significant effect on overall score in individual groups of respondents, as well as the whole set (p<0.001), with post-intervention scores higher than pre-intervention scores. No statistically significant differences in overall score were detected before participation in the educational programme in individual groups (p=0.204). Participants from the Medical Professional/Non/Motivated group achieved lower post-intervention scores to a significantly greater extent (p<0.05) and more often perceived the educational programme as being “very difficult” (χ2=20.66, df=6, P<0.01) compared to other groups.ConclusionsThe educational programme was assessed as effective. Care of bereaved parents has its specifics and healthcare professionals should possess a basic knowledge of how to provide sensitive care during this time.

The Perinatal Loss Care Educational Programme and Its Evaluation

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Izobraževalni Program Zdravstvene Nege ob Perinatalni Izgubi in Njegova Evalvacija

IntroductionWorking with bereaved parents is an immense challenge for professionals in the field of perinatal care and requires a high level of knowledge and...

The Perinatal Loss Care Educational Programme and Its Evaluation

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Dec 13, 2019

Page range: 1 - 7

Received: Jun 17, 2019

Accepted: Sep 17, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2020-0001

Keywords
perinatal loss care, education, healthcare professionals, blended learning, evaluation research

© 2020 Kateřina Ratislavová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Perinatal Loss Care Educational Programme and Its Evaluation

Article Category: Original scientific article

Published Online: Dec 13, 2019

Page range: 1 - 7

Received: Jun 17, 2019

Accepted: Sep 17, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2020-0001

Keywordsperinatal loss care, education, healthcare professionals, blended learning, evaluation research

© 2020 Kateřina Ratislavová et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
perinatal loss care, education, healthcare professionals, blended learning, evaluation research