Research | Search for research projects | Caring for the carers: Supporting the wellbeing of health professionals caring for parents following perinatal loss

Caring for the carers: Supporting the wellbeing of health professionals caring for parents following perinatal loss

Project Status In Progress
Funding Organisation Stillbirth Foundation
Organisation Lead Stillbirth CRE
Lead Investigator Siobhan Loughnan
Program Area Implementing Best Practice In Care After Stillbirth And In Subsequent Pregnancies
Topic Implementing Optimal Parent-centred Care Following Perinatal Death
Contact Siobhan Loughnan at siobhan.loughnan@mater.uq.edu.au

The death of a baby is a devastating and difficult experience for parents, their families and support people, but also for the healthcare professionals who care for them. Feelings of emotional exhaustion, hopelessness, and stress are not uncommon for care providers when faced with a traumatic death such as stillbirth and neonatal death. Although bereavement care can be professionally and personally rewarding, care providers are at increased risk for work-related burnout and compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress. This can leave our health systems increasingly vulnerable to poor retention, absenteeism, and poor quality of care.

The Stillbirth CRE & PSANZ update of the Clinical Practice Guideline for Care Around Stillbirth and Neonatal Death and the new national Stillbirth Clinical Standard highlight the need for care providers in perinatal bereavement to be provided with a range of support options including bereavement care training, formal and informal debriefing, clinical supervision, and access to relevant support services.

This project aims to understand the wellbeing needs and preferences of perinatal bereavement care providers in Australia and increase the availability and accessibility of psychosocial support options. This will be achieved through the co-design of a new online resource developed with carers and for carers. Given the additional stressors placed on care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that we develop and implement evidence-based support options and interventions to help promote a holistic-approach to health and wellbeing and prevent burnout and compassion fatigue in the long-term.

Western Pacific Regional Office of the International Stillbirth Alliance
Coordinating Centre, Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Alliance, Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand

Level 3, Aubigny Place
Mater Research Institute
Raymond Terrace,
South Brisbane QLD 4101
The University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine

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