Early Pregnancy Assessment Services in Australia: What psychosocial support is available? A qualitative study

Abstract

Problem: Women commonly experience emotional distress following miscarriage but do not receive the support they need from healthcare providers. Background: Miscarriage can result in psychological morbidity; however, appropriate support at the time of a miscarriage can lead to better psychological outcomes. Early Pregnancy Assessment Services (EPASs) are dedicated outpatient services considered the “gold standard” for miscarriage care. Little is known about the psychosocial support EPASs provide in Australia. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the provision of psychosocial support in Australian EPASs. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 purposively sampled key-i..