Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40104624›Full record

ReviewEuropean journal of midwifery2025

A meta-ethnography exploring parents' experiences of fetal death and the care they received between diagnosis and birth induction.

Cathrine H Pettersson, Tone H Sand, Bente Dahl

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in European journal of midwifery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Cathrine H Pettersson *Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
Tone H Sand *Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
Bente DahlFaculty of Health Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionBeing notified that the fetus has died

methodsWe conducted a meta-ethnography in accordance with Noblit and Hare's seven phases and the eMERGe reporting guidance. Literature searches were conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed and PsycInfo in October and November 2022 and updated in August 2024. A PRISMA flowchart was used to illustrate the search process and quality assessment was performed according to CASP.

resultsSeven studies were included in the meta-ethnography. 'Realizing the unreal by taking control of the uncontrollable' emerged as an overarching metaphor through a reciprocal translation of the data. The metaphor illustrated four main themes: 1) Falling into the unknown, 2) Needing care during vulnerable times, 3) Communicating the meaningless, and 4) Navigating the terrain. Receiving the diagnosis resulted in feelings of chaos. However, healthcare providers possessing empathetic communication skills helped them to cope with the situation and prepare for birth.

conclusionsOptimal care performance, where communication is central, is a useful strategy for healthcare professionals in their encounters with parents who experience fetal death. Training is vital in order to provide good care and support for parents throughout the process.

Indexed as

communicationfetal deathmeta-ethnographymidwifery careparents’ experiencesqualitative

Identifiers

PMID40104624
PMCPMC11917500

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.