Evaluation of the effectiveness of perinatal bereavement counseling training for midwives

Objectives: This study was conducted to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a training program designed to enhance midwives' knowledge, competence, and confidence levels regarding perinatal bereavement counseling for parents experiencing perinatal loss. Method: The study was carried out in three phases. In the first phase, the Turkish adaptation and validity–reliability study of the Perinatal Bereavement Care Competence Scale was conducted. In the second phase, the scope and content of the training program were developed using the Delphi technique. In the third phase, the effectiveness of the developed program was evaluated through a randomized controlled experimental design with a total of 113 midwives assigned to the intervention (n=59) and waiting-list control group (n=54). The effectiveness of the training was assessed using the Personal Information Form, the Perinatal Bereavement Care Competence Scale (PBCCS), and the Perinatal Bereavement Care Confidence Scale (PBCCS-Confidence) through pre- and post-training measurements. Results: The pre-test scores of midwives in the intervention and control groups were found to be similar. Following the training, the intervention group showed a significant increase in PBCCS and PBCCS-Confidence total scores, while no significant change was observed in the control group (p<0.005). Effect size analyses indicated that the training had a large effect on the changes in the PBCCS total score and PBCCS-Confidence subscale scores. Conclusion: The perinatal bereavement counseling training for midwives was found to be effective in increasing midwives' competence and confidence levels in perinatal bereavement care and was determined to be applicable for clinical practice.