Women’s experiences of psychological care following early pregnancy loss: a scoping review and thematic synthesis

BACKGROUND: Miscarriage is a traumatic event for women and their families. Australian healthcare is fragmented, with evidence that healthcare approaches may adversely impact women's care during a miscarriage. There is limited evidence that describes women's psychological needs to support post-miscarriage recovery. AIM: The aim of this review was to explore the reported psychological support needs of women receiving care after miscarriage in Australia, as understood through their experiences of health care provision. METHODS: Five databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed) were searched in January 2024 for key terms related to women's experiences of psychological follow-up post-miscarriage in Australia. The review followed the JBI framework and was reported in line with PRISMA-ScR. RESULTS: Of 101 articles retrieved, 28 duplicates were removed. Seventy-three were screened by title and abstract, 39 underwent full-text review, and 8 were included. Eight studies with data on 1,581 Australian women were analysed. Women frequently reported an absence of structured or routine psychological follow-up, despite reporting significant anguish, sadness, and grief post-miscarriage. The thematic synthesis identified 3 themes on psychological follow-up for post-miscarriage care: (1) the necessity for clear, accessible information about miscarriage; (2) the importance of emotionally sensitive care; and (3) the need for effective follow-up care. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of structured psychological follow-up care after miscarriage often leaves women unsupported in their grief. Further research is needed to address women's needs within an integrated care model for psychological care.