Evaluation of Training on Coping With Perinatal Loss on Undergraduate Midwifery Students’ Competence in Bereavement Care

ObjectiveTo determine participants’ pre- and post-training competence in perinatal bereavement care, along with evaluation of the training.MethodsA quasi-experimental study with a pre–post design was conducted in two phases. The training on coping with perinatal loss (TCPL) was first delivered entirely online to a cohort of students in 2022(N = 56). To enhance the initial intervention, a second cohort of students in 2023(N = 44) received the TCPL with an added on-site scenario simulation component. Questionnaires of Perinatal Bereavement Care Competence Scale, Self-Competence in Death Work Scale, Jefferson Scale of Empathy, Chinese version of the Stress-Related Growth Scale-Short Form, and the evaluation of scenario simulation were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the training.ResultsIncluding 52 junior undergraduate midwifery students in 2022 and 44 in 2023 completed the questionnaires. We observed higher post-training scores for perinatal bereavement care competence and stress-related growth, and a high degree of satisfaction in the scenario of simulations.ConclusionsThe results support the feasibility of the training and are consistent with short-term improvements; confirmatory controlled studies are warranted.Trial RegistrationChinese Registry of Clinical Trials: ChiCTR2200066048