title: Experiences with perinatal loss from the health professionals' perspective.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to know the experience of health professionals in situations of perinatal death and grief and to describe their action strategies in the management of perinatal loss. A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was carried out through interviews conducted with 19 professionals. Three thematic categories were identified: Healthcare practice, feelings aroused by perinatal loss and meaning and beliefs about perinatal loss and grief. The results revealed that the lack of knowledge and skills to deal with perinatal loss are identified as the main reason behind unsuitable attitudes that are usually adopted in these situations. This generates anxiety, helplessness and frustration that compromise professional competency. The conclusion reached is that the promotion of training programs to acquire knowledge, skills and abilities in management of perinatal bereavement and the development of a clinical practice guideline for perinatal loss are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Alicante, Hospital de Montilla, Agencia Pública Empresarial Sanitaria Alto Guadalquivir, Córdoba, Spain. smpastor@ephag.es
authors.forename: Sonia María
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pastor Montero
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Romero Sánchez
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hueso Montoro
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lillo Crespo
authors.forename: Ana Gema
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Vacas Jaén
authors.forename: María Belén
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Tirado
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D005313:Fetal Death; D006801:Humans