Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG126/05

Question

Management of miscarriage: In women with confirmed miscarriage, does the type of management strategy (expectant, medical and surgical) impact on women's experience, including psychological and emotional outcomes?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important?

The management of miscarriage in the UK has changed in many ways over the past 2 decades, particularly in the shift from inpatient to outpatient or day case care and the introduction of medical and expectant management as alternatives to surgery.

Despite these changes there is a lack of research into the effects of these different approaches from the woman's perspective, in particular their psychological and emotional impact. Miscarriage is distressing for most women, and the type of management itself might affect women's need for counselling, with a resulting cost to the NHS. Because of this it is an important area for research.

The deficiency in the literature could be addressed by a comparative study of women having the different management strategies (expectant, medical or surgical) and in a variety of clinical settings (for example, early pregnancy assessment unit, gynaecological ward or gynaecological emergency unit). The data collected could be both quantitative (using validated psychological health questionnaires) and qualitative (focusing particularly on women's experience of the particular type and setting of care).

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage: diagnosis and initial management

Number

NG126

Date issued

April 2019

Other details