Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41313573›Full record

ArticleThe patient2026

Women's Preferences in Early Pregnancy Loss Management: A Focus on Psychological Considerations Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process.

Mirjam E C Peters, Andrea Icks, Charalabos-Markos Dintsios

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The patient, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

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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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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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.

Mirjam E C PetersDepartment of Nursing, Midwifery and Therapy Sciences, Bochum University of Applied Sciences, Gesundheitscampus 6-8, 44801, Bochum, Germany. mirjam.peters@hs-bochum.de.ORCID 0009-0005-9989-2794
Andrea IcksCentre for Health and Society, Institute for Health Services Research and Health Economics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Charalabos-Markos DintsiosCentre for Health and Society, Institute for Health Services Research and Health Economics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly pregnancy loss (EPL) is associated with significant emotional burden. While multiple management options exist, psychological aspects are often underrepresented in decision-making support. The objective of this study is to identify criteria that are important to women when choosing between expectant, medical, and surgical management of EPL, with particular attention to psychological aspects.

methodsA mixed-methods study using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was conducted. Criteria were identified via literature review and a focus group. Thirty-seven women with EPL history completed structured telephone interviews with pairwise comparisons. Quantitative data were analyzed to calculate criterion weights and assess consistency. Logistic regression explored factors associated with inconsistent responses.

resultsAmong 37 participants, 'Minimizing psychological distress' emerged as the most important criterion (local weight = 0.381), with sub-criteria such as 'Experiencing miscarriage as a natural process' (0.384; 0.252) and 'Avoiding hospital treatment' (0.355; 0.425) ranked most important for women preferring expectant and medical management, respectively. Women preferring surgical management prioritized 'Short time to miscarriage completion' (0.389). Sixty-five percent of participants demonstrated acceptable preference consistency (consistency ratio ≤ 0.2). Lower education showed the greatest and statistically significant negative influence on the consistency of the preferences in the regression models.

conclusionPreferences varied by treatment choice, indicating that psychological distress is defined differently across women. The AHP method enabled nuanced insights into individual decision-making. Emotional factors may influence preference patterns and should be considered in clinical counselling. These findings support the need for individualized counselling and shared decision-making. The results may inform the development of clinical tools and guidelines.

Indexed as

Abortion, SpontaneousPatient PreferenceAdultDecision MakingFemaleFocus GroupsHumansPregnancyYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41313573
PMCPMC13124774

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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.