Improving access, understanding, and dignity during miscarriage recovery in British Columbia, Canada: A patient-oriented research study

Background: Approximately 15%–25% of clinical pregnancies end in miscarriage, with more than 15,000 miscarriages occurring annually in British Columbia, Canada. Despite the significant rates of loss, research and health care services for pregnancy loss remain scarce in British Columbia. Objectives:...

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Main Author: Rana Van Tuyl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2024-01-01
Series:Women's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231224180
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author Rana Van Tuyl
author_facet Rana Van Tuyl
author_sort Rana Van Tuyl
collection DOAJ
description Background: Approximately 15%–25% of clinical pregnancies end in miscarriage, with more than 15,000 miscarriages occurring annually in British Columbia, Canada. Despite the significant rates of loss, research and health care services for pregnancy loss remain scarce in British Columbia. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) aid miscarriage recovery through the identification and sharing of equitable pregnancy loss care practices and supports and (2) present policy recommendations to improve prenatal care guidelines and employment standards for pregnancy loss. Design: This research took a patient-oriented methodological approach alongside people with lived/living experience(s) of miscarriage recovery in British Columbia to evaluate access to health care during pregnancy loss, societal understanding of miscarriage, and treatment options that foreground dignity. Methods: The mixed-methods design of this research included policy research on prenatal care guidelines, policy research on provincial and territorial employment legislation for bereavement leave, semi-structured interviews (n = 27), and a discovery action dialogue (n = 4). Results: The findings of this research demonstrate the need for improved prenatal care guidelines for early pregnancy loss, follow-up care after a miscarriage, mental health screening and supports, and bereavement leave legislation. Conclusion: This article includes recommendations to improve equitable access to pregnancy loss care, bereavement leave legislation, and future research in this area.
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spelling doaj.art-4f573e088bd6403685bcbc005867c0fb2024-01-19T18:03:21ZengSAGE PublishingWomen's Health1745-50652024-01-012010.1177/17455057231224180Improving access, understanding, and dignity during miscarriage recovery in British Columbia, Canada: A patient-oriented research studyRana Van TuylBackground: Approximately 15%–25% of clinical pregnancies end in miscarriage, with more than 15,000 miscarriages occurring annually in British Columbia, Canada. Despite the significant rates of loss, research and health care services for pregnancy loss remain scarce in British Columbia. Objectives: This study aimed to (1) aid miscarriage recovery through the identification and sharing of equitable pregnancy loss care practices and supports and (2) present policy recommendations to improve prenatal care guidelines and employment standards for pregnancy loss. Design: This research took a patient-oriented methodological approach alongside people with lived/living experience(s) of miscarriage recovery in British Columbia to evaluate access to health care during pregnancy loss, societal understanding of miscarriage, and treatment options that foreground dignity. Methods: The mixed-methods design of this research included policy research on prenatal care guidelines, policy research on provincial and territorial employment legislation for bereavement leave, semi-structured interviews (n = 27), and a discovery action dialogue (n = 4). Results: The findings of this research demonstrate the need for improved prenatal care guidelines for early pregnancy loss, follow-up care after a miscarriage, mental health screening and supports, and bereavement leave legislation. Conclusion: This article includes recommendations to improve equitable access to pregnancy loss care, bereavement leave legislation, and future research in this area.https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231224180
spellingShingle Rana Van Tuyl
Improving access, understanding, and dignity during miscarriage recovery in British Columbia, Canada: A patient-oriented research study
Women's Health
title Improving access, understanding, and dignity during miscarriage recovery in British Columbia, Canada: A patient-oriented research study
title_full Improving access, understanding, and dignity during miscarriage recovery in British Columbia, Canada: A patient-oriented research study
title_fullStr Improving access, understanding, and dignity during miscarriage recovery in British Columbia, Canada: A patient-oriented research study
title_full_unstemmed Improving access, understanding, and dignity during miscarriage recovery in British Columbia, Canada: A patient-oriented research study
title_short Improving access, understanding, and dignity during miscarriage recovery in British Columbia, Canada: A patient-oriented research study
title_sort improving access understanding and dignity during miscarriage recovery in british columbia canada a patient oriented research study
url https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231224180
work_keys_str_mv AT ranavantuyl improvingaccessunderstandinganddignityduringmiscarriagerecoveryinbritishcolumbiacanadaapatientorientedresearchstudy