Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42741461›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of midwifery2026

Knowledge, practices, and emotional experiences of Italian midwives and healthcare professionals in termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly: The RESPeC-ToP Study.

Claudia Ravaldi, Laura Mosconi, Anna Adami, Roberto Bonaiuti, Sara Colosi, Martina Dardari, Francesca Frati, Elena Facenda, Simona Fumagalli, Serena Neri and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of midwifery, 2026. 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

13 authors.

Claudia RavaldiDepartment of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Perinatal Research Laboratory PeaRL, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Laura MosconiDepartment of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Perinatal Research Laboratory PeaRL, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Anna AdamiSchool of Midwifery, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Roberto BonaiutiDepartment of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Perinatal Research Laboratory PeaRL, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Sara ColosiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Martina DardariDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Francesca FratiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Elena FacendaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Simona FumagalliSchool of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Serena NeriDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Antonella NespoliSchool of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Federica PolettoSchool of Midwifery, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Alfredo VannacciDepartment of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Perinatal Research Laboratory PeaRL, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTermination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly is associated with profound psychological distress for parents and can be emotionally demanding for healthcare professionals. Evidence on professionals' knowledge, practices, and support needs in Italy remains limited. We aimed to examine Italian healthcare professionals' knowledge of legal aspects, bereavement care practices, and emotional experiences related to care in the context of termination of pregnancy (ToP) for fetal anomaly, and to explore factors associated with supportive behaviors.

methodsA cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted among healthcare professionals between September 2022 and December 2023. The survey included sociodemographic and professional characteristics, knowledge of Italian law, bereavement care practices, and professionals' emotional experiences.

resultsA total of 552 respondents participated of which 84.8% were midwives; 99.4% correctly identified when termination of pregnancy can be performed, while 19.5% were aware that no legally fixed gestational threshold exists; younger and less experienced respondents showed lower levels of legal knowledge (p<0.001). Feelings of inadequacy were reported by 51.4% of respondents, and 71.2% reported the need for debriefing after assisting with a termination of pregnancy. The presence of a shared emotional support protocol was significantly associated with supportive behaviors (p≤0.003). Routine use of memory boxes was reported by 53.0% of respondents, whereas follow-up care was least consistently ensured (37.4%); 97.2% recognized the need for lactation management after termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly.

conclusionsThe RESPeC-ToP Study highlights gaps in legal knowledge and uneven implementation of key bereavement care components. Training and shared emotional support protocols emerge as actionable strategies to standardize supportive practices and strengthen both quality of care and staff support within maternity services.

Indexed as

bereavement carefollow-up carememory makingmidwivestermination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly

Identifiers

PMID42741461
PMCPMC13573999

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.