Caring for Bereaved Parents: Competency, Beliefs About Perinatal Loss, and Coping Strategies of Nurses and Physicians2

Hello and thank you SO much for providing us with this important feedback.

PROJECT TITLE: Caring for Bereaved Parents: Competency, Beliefs About Perinatal Loss, and Coping Strategies of Nurses and Physicians

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this form is to provide you with information that may affect your decision whether to say YES or NO to participation in this research. The research will be conducted within the state of Virginia.

Principal Investigator:
Anisa L. Glowczak, MSEd, NCC
Fort Norfolk Plaza
301 Riverview Dr, Suite 710
Norfolk, VA 23510

DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH STUDY
This study seeks to identify trends in the competency, beliefs, coping strategies and experience of nurses and physicians who regularly work with patients who have experienced a perinatal loss. Information will only be gathered from you by the following survey. If you say YES, then your participation will last approximately 5-10 minutes.

RISKS AND BENEFITS
RISKS: If you decide to participate in this study, you may face a risk of some emotional discomfort as you recall the events, thoughts and feelings associated with your work. The researchers strive to reduce this risk by expressing the voluntary nature of participation and the option to withdraw from this study at any time without penalty. The survey does not ask identifying information (e.g. names or locations) so your responses will be anonymous.

BENEFITS: Although there are no direct benefits for participating in the study, you may gain personal insight or benefit from reflecting on your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. The researchers hope that the information gathered within this research study will contribute to the overall knowledge and understanding of how to best support hospital staff who care for bereaved parents. If you would like, the researchers will offer you a copy of the results of this study once it is completed.

COSTS AND PAYMENTS
There are no costs to participate. The researchers are unable to give you any payment for participating in this study.

CONFIDENTIALITY
All data collected will be pooled and de-identified. NO identifying information will be collected, including IP addresses. All information you provide for this study is strictly confidential. The survey and all data on this website will be retained for the required amount of time, and then deleted/destroyed. The results of this study may be used in reports, presentations, and publications.

WITHDRAWAL PRIVILEGE
It is OK for you to say NO to participating in this study, and you are free to withdraw from the study at any time without penalty.

COMPENSATION FOR ILLNESS AND INJURY
Researchers will not provide free medical care for any illness or injury resulting from participating in this study. Financial compensation for research related injury or illness, lost wages, disability, or discomfort is not available. However, you do not waive any legal rights by signing this consent form.

VOLUNTARY CONSENT
By clicking below, you are agreeing that you are an adult (age 18 or older), have read this form (or have had it read to you) and that you are satisfied that you understand this consent, the research study, and its risks and benefits. If you have any questions now or in the future, you can contact the research team at the address listed above.

By continuing, you are telling the researchers "YES, I understand this informed consent document, I am an adult age 18 or older, and I agree to participate in this study."

Question Title

* 1. In which area do you work?

L&D

Postpartum

Antepartum

Special Care

Emergency Dept

PACU

NICU

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. In which hospital system do you work?

Sentara

Bon Secours

Carillion

Chesapeake Regional

Riverside

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. I am a...

Nurse

Physician

Question Title

* 4. How comfortable are you with...(check all that apply)

Question Title

* 5. AFTER caring for a bereaved patient how often do you....(check all that apply)

	Never	Seldom/Occasionally	Always
Practice self-care (i.e. exercise, relax, hobby, meditation etc.)	Practice self-care (i.e. exercise, relax, hobby, meditation etc.) Never	Practice self-care (i.e. exercise, relax, hobby, meditation etc.) Seldom/Occasionally	Practice self-care (i.e. exercise, relax, hobby, meditation etc.) Always
Believe that your own thoughts/feelings about death/loss interfered with the care you provided the bereaved patient	Believe that your own thoughts/feelings about death/loss interfered with the care you provided the bereaved patient Never	Believe that your own thoughts/feelings about death/loss interfered with the care you provided the bereaved patient Seldom/Occasionally	Believe that your own thoughts/feelings about death/loss interfered with the care you provided the bereaved patient Always
Believe that you provided competent care	Believe that you provided competent care Never	Believe that you provided competent care Seldom/Occasionally	Believe that you provided competent care Always
Carry the patient/family "home" with you mentally	Carry the patient/family "home" with you mentally Never	Carry the patient/family "home" with you mentally Seldom/Occasionally	Carry the patient/family "home" with you mentally Always
Cry	Cry Never	Cry Seldom/Occasionally	Cry Always
Believe it was a rewarding or meaningful experience, professionally and/or personally	Believe it was a rewarding or meaningful experience, professionally and/or personally Never	Believe it was a rewarding or meaningful experience, professionally and/or personally Seldom/Occasionally	Believe it was a rewarding or meaningful experience, professionally and/or personally Always
Feel angry	Feel angry Never	Feel angry Seldom/Occasionally	Feel angry Always
Feel anxious	Feel anxious Never	Feel anxious Seldom/Occasionally	Feel anxious Always
Have upsetting, intrusive thoughts about the baby or patient	Have upsetting, intrusive thoughts about the baby or patient Never	Have upsetting, intrusive thoughts about the baby or patient Seldom/Occasionally	Have upsetting, intrusive thoughts about the baby or patient Always
Believe that your care made a positive difference to the patient/family	Believe that your care made a positive difference to the patient/family Never	Believe that your care made a positive difference to the patient/family Seldom/Occasionally	Believe that your care made a positive difference to the patient/family Always
Need time to reflect	Need time to reflect Never	Need time to reflect Seldom/Occasionally	Need time to reflect Always
Need to share (talk, vent, discuss) your experience with another	Need to share (talk, vent, discuss) your experience with another Never	Need to share (talk, vent, discuss) your experience with another Seldom/Occasionally	Need to share (talk, vent, discuss) your experience with another Always
Engage in a "feel good" or "checking out" behavior (i.e. drinking alcohol, going out with friends, eating, etc)	Engage in a "feel good" or "checking out" behavior (i.e. drinking alcohol, going out with friends, eating, etc) Never	Engage in a "feel good" or "checking out" behavior (i.e. drinking alcohol, going out with friends, eating, etc) Seldom/Occasionally	Engage in a "feel good" or "checking out" behavior (i.e. drinking alcohol, going out with friends, eating, etc) Always

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. Please answer honestly.

Is there a particular bereavement policy or procedure that could be altered to enhance patient care?

Is there a particular bereavement policy or procedure that could be altered to enhance YOUR job performance?

When caring for a bereaved family, Is there a particular time or task during which you experience a need for more support?

Question Title

* 7. Do you have emotional difficulty working with bereaved parents who fall into any of these categories (check all that apply)...

	Yes	No	Sometimes
Mother used drugs or alcohol	Mother used drugs or alcohol Yes	Mother used drugs or alcohol No	Mother used drugs or alcohol Sometimes
Parents chose to terminate pregnancy (for genetic D/O, anomaly, etc)	Parents chose to terminate pregnancy (for genetic D/O, anomaly, etc) Yes	Parents chose to terminate pregnancy (for genetic D/O, anomaly, etc) No	Parents chose to terminate pregnancy (for genetic D/O, anomaly, etc) Sometimes
Mother chose not to obtain prenatal care	Mother chose not to obtain prenatal care Yes	Mother chose not to obtain prenatal care No	Mother chose not to obtain prenatal care Sometimes
Mother was non-compliant with prescribed meds or treatment for medical condition	Mother was non-compliant with prescribed meds or treatment for medical condition Yes	Mother was non-compliant with prescribed meds or treatment for medical condition No	Mother was non-compliant with prescribed meds or treatment for medical condition Sometimes
Mother is very young	Mother is very young Yes	Mother is very young No	Mother is very young Sometimes
Parents in abusive relationship	Parents in abusive relationship Yes	Parents in abusive relationship No	Parents in abusive relationship Sometimes
A family whose cultural, religious, familial beliefs and values differ from yours	A family whose cultural, religious, familial beliefs and values differ from yours Yes	A family whose cultural, religious, familial beliefs and values differ from yours No	A family whose cultural, religious, familial beliefs and values differ from yours Sometimes
A family whose values and/or beliefs about life, or what constitutes person-hood, differs from yours	A family whose values and/or beliefs about life, or what constitutes person-hood, differs from yours Yes	A family whose values and/or beliefs about life, or what constitutes person-hood, differs from yours No	A family whose values and/or beliefs about life, or what constitutes person-hood, differs from yours Sometimes

Question Title

* 8. How do you perceive a miscarriage (less than 20 weeks)? (check any that apply)

Gestational age makes no difference, it is the death of a baby/child

It is too early to call it a baby/child

It is not as significant a loss as a stillbirth (20 weeks to term)

It is not as significant a loss as that of a neonate death

It is not as significant a loss as that of a child

I view the patient who has a miscarriage as a parent

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. How do you perceive a stillbirth (20+ weeks)? (Check all that apply)

Gestational age makes no difference, it is the death of a baby/child

It is too early to call it a baby/child

It is not as significant a loss as a neonate death

It is not as significant a loss as that of a child

I view the patient who has a stillbirth as a parent

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 10. Thinking of just grief-related and perinatal loss issues, in what areas are you competent? In what areas would you like/need to have additional training or support?

	I'm fully competent	I need more experience	I'd like more training & support
Multicultural aspects	Multicultural aspects I'm fully competent	Multicultural aspects I need more experience	Multicultural aspects I'd like more training & support
Completion of paperwork	Completion of paperwork I'm fully competent	Completion of paperwork I need more experience	Completion of paperwork I'd like more training & support
Information about the hospital-provided cremation service	Information about the hospital-provided cremation service I'm fully competent	Information about the hospital-provided cremation service I need more experience	Information about the hospital-provided cremation service I'd like more training & support
How to prepare a baby to be viewed by the family (tips & tricks)	How to prepare a baby to be viewed by the family (tips & tricks) I'm fully competent	How to prepare a baby to be viewed by the family (tips & tricks) I need more experience	How to prepare a baby to be viewed by the family (tips & tricks) I'd like more training & support
What to say, or not say, to bereaved families	What to say, or not say, to bereaved families I'm fully competent	What to say, or not say, to bereaved families I need more experience	What to say, or not say, to bereaved families I'd like more training & support
Working through my own thoughts/feelings about death/grief/loss	Working through my own thoughts/feelings about death/grief/loss I'm fully competent	Working through my own thoughts/feelings about death/grief/loss I need more experience	Working through my own thoughts/feelings about death/grief/loss I'd like more training & support
Working through my own thoughts/feelings about patients in difficult situations (i.e. substance abusing, non-compliant, very young, etc)	Working through my own thoughts/feelings about patients in difficult situations (i.e. substance abusing, non-compliant, very young, etc) I'm fully competent	Working through my own thoughts/feelings about patients in difficult situations (i.e. substance abusing, non-compliant, very young, etc) I need more experience	Working through my own thoughts/feelings about patients in difficult situations (i.e. substance abusing, non-compliant, very young, etc) I'd like more training & support
Identifying and addressing situations that challenge my own biases, values, and beliefs	Identifying and addressing situations that challenge my own biases, values, and beliefs I'm fully competent	Identifying and addressing situations that challenge my own biases, values, and beliefs I need more experience	Identifying and addressing situations that challenge my own biases, values, and beliefs I'd like more training & support

Question Title

* 11. Click on all statements that you agree with

After a loss, mothers are usually more depressed than fathers

Fathers don't mourn a miscarriage or stillbirth as intensely as mothers

If a parent doesn't cry or express sad emotions, it may signify a lack of caring or attachment to the baby

Once grief is resolved the process is complete

Children need to be protected from grief and death

Bereaved parents no longer have a relationship with the deceased baby

It generally takes about 3 months to move through grief

It's unprofessional if I cry around parents

It's unprofessional if I feel frustrated by the values, beliefs, and choices of others, which differ from mine

I do not agree with any of these statements

Question Title

* 12. Do you have any other comments, questions, or concerns?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT!

	I am comfortable	I am NOT comfortable	I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	I need more training and/or experience
Multicultural aspects (i.e. religious beliefs and practices, culture, etc.)	Multicultural aspects (i.e. religious beliefs and practices, culture, etc.) I am comfortable	Multicultural aspects (i.e. religious beliefs and practices, culture, etc.) I am NOT comfortable	Multicultural aspects (i.e. religious beliefs and practices, culture, etc.) I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Multicultural aspects (i.e. religious beliefs and practices, culture, etc.) I need more training and/or experience
Caring for a bereaved family	Caring for a bereaved family I am comfortable	Caring for a bereaved family I am NOT comfortable	Caring for a bereaved family I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Caring for a bereaved family I need more training and/or experience
Dressing/wrapping the baby	Dressing/wrapping the baby I am comfortable	Dressing/wrapping the baby I am NOT comfortable	Dressing/wrapping the baby I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Dressing/wrapping the baby I need more training and/or experience
Taking photos of the baby	Taking photos of the baby I am comfortable	Taking photos of the baby I am NOT comfortable	Taking photos of the baby I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Taking photos of the baby I need more training and/or experience
Obtaining hand and/or footprints	Obtaining hand and/or footprints I am comfortable	Obtaining hand and/or footprints I am NOT comfortable	Obtaining hand and/or footprints I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Obtaining hand and/or footprints I need more training and/or experience
Understanding and completing the appropriate forms	Understanding and completing the appropriate forms I am comfortable	Understanding and completing the appropriate forms I am NOT comfortable	Understanding and completing the appropriate forms I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Understanding and completing the appropriate forms I need more training and/or experience
Expressing my natural emotions (i.e. crying) with the patient/family	Expressing my natural emotions (i.e. crying) with the patient/family I am comfortable	Expressing my natural emotions (i.e. crying) with the patient/family I am NOT comfortable	Expressing my natural emotions (i.e. crying) with the patient/family I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Expressing my natural emotions (i.e. crying) with the patient/family I need more training and/or experience
Reviewing the contents of the bereavement packet with the patient/family	Reviewing the contents of the bereavement packet with the patient/family I am comfortable	Reviewing the contents of the bereavement packet with the patient/family I am NOT comfortable	Reviewing the contents of the bereavement packet with the patient/family I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Reviewing the contents of the bereavement packet with the patient/family I need more training and/or experience
Expressing yourself verbally (naturally knowing what to say, no inappropriate comments, etc)	Expressing yourself verbally (naturally knowing what to say, no inappropriate comments, etc) I am comfortable	Expressing yourself verbally (naturally knowing what to say, no inappropriate comments, etc) I am NOT comfortable	Expressing yourself verbally (naturally knowing what to say, no inappropriate comments, etc) I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Expressing yourself verbally (naturally knowing what to say, no inappropriate comments, etc) I need more training and/or experience
Empathizing with and understanding the patient's experiences	Empathizing with and understanding the patient's experiences I am comfortable	Empathizing with and understanding the patient's experiences I am NOT comfortable	Empathizing with and understanding the patient's experiences I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Empathizing with and understanding the patient's experiences I need more training and/or experience
Recognizing appropriate grief responses	Recognizing appropriate grief responses I am comfortable	Recognizing appropriate grief responses I am NOT comfortable	Recognizing appropriate grief responses I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Recognizing appropriate grief responses I need more training and/or experience
Understanding how the hospital-provided cremation service works	Understanding how the hospital-provided cremation service works I am comfortable	Understanding how the hospital-provided cremation service works I am NOT comfortable	Understanding how the hospital-provided cremation service works I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Understanding how the hospital-provided cremation service works I need more training and/or experience
Encouraging patient to talk about her loss	Encouraging patient to talk about her loss I am comfortable	Encouraging patient to talk about her loss I am NOT comfortable	Encouraging patient to talk about her loss I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Encouraging patient to talk about her loss I need more training and/or experience
Dealing with my own thoughts/feelings about death and loss	Dealing with my own thoughts/feelings about death and loss I am comfortable	Dealing with my own thoughts/feelings about death and loss I am NOT comfortable	Dealing with my own thoughts/feelings about death and loss I am knowledgeable and/or experienced	Dealing with my own thoughts/feelings about death and loss I need more training and/or experience