title: Miscarriage in Australia: The geographical inequity of healthcare services.
abstract: Complications in early pregnancy can lead to pregnancy loss (miscarriage) and ultimately the presentation of a woman to their local emergency department (ED). Miscarriage is a common occurrence, with one in six pregnancies resulting in pregnancy loss.(1) Unfortunately medical and nursing care does not change the likelihood of a threatened miscarriage progressing to pregnancy loss; this is a highly emotional and stressful time for the woman and her family. Research has shown that women have often felt dissatisfied with the care provided in the emergency department and have reported lower levels of satisfaction (Geller et al., 2010(2), Indig et al., 2011(3)). This paper explores the challenges in the provision of emergency department healthcare for women presenting to metropolitan EDs and compares these to those faced by women who present to non-metropolitan EDs with early pregnancy complications.
authors.affiliation: College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Australia. Electronic address: sue.edwards@my.jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Australia. Electronic address: melanie.birks@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birks
authors.affiliation: College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Australia. Electronic address: ysannechapman@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ysanne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Australia. Electronic address: karen.yates@jcu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yates
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001315:Australia; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Abortion, spontaneous; Emergency department; Pregnancy; Rural, regional and remote healthcare; Vaginal bleeding