Postnatal Debriefing After Adverse Obstetric Events

Sponsor
Parc de Salut Mar
Study ID
NCT07579273
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

Notify me when recruiting opens

Save your spot on the interest list for this study. We'll keep your details with this study so our team can follow up when recruiting opens.

Not yet recruiting

Add your contact details and location so we can keep your interest tied to this study.

Conditions

  • Obstetric Labor Complications
  • Postpartum Period
  • Psychological Trauma
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Structured Postnatal Debriefing — BEHAVIORAL
    A structured postnatal debriefing session conducted within the first 24 hours postpartum by a senior obstetrician and the midwife responsible for the woman's care. The session takes place in the maternity ward room, in a private and supportive environment, and may include a companion chosen by the woman if she wishes. The intervention includes a structured clinical explanation of events, emotional validation, and an opportunity for the woman to ask questions and express her experience.
  • Usual Care — OTHER
    Participants receive routine postpartum care according to standard clinical practice. This may include routine clinical follow-up and non-structured explanations regarding the obstetric event when considered necessary by healthcare professionals.

Study Details

Adverse or unexpected obstetric events can negatively affect women's psychological well-being and childbirth experience, increasing the risk of postpartum traumatic stress. However, structured postnatal debriefing is not routinely implemented in clinical practice, and evidence regarding its effectiveness remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a structured postnatal debriefing conducted within the first 24 hours after childbirth in women who have experienced an adverse or unexpected obstetric event. This quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study will include two consecutive groups: a control group receiving usual postpartum care during the pre-implementation phase and an intervention group receiving structured postnatal debriefing during the implementation phase. The primary outcome is childbirth-related trauma at 6 weeks postpartum. Secondary outcomes include birth satisfaction, early post-traumatic stress symptoms, satisfaction with information and emotional support received after childbirth, and clinical maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study will provide evidence on whether structured postnatal debriefing improves psychological outcomes and contributes to more patient-centered obstetric care.

Key Dates

First listed
May 12, 2026
Start date
Oct 31, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2026
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2028
Completion
Jan 31, 2029

Study Design

Enrollment
142 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Postnatal Debriefing
    Participants receive a structured postnatal debriefing session conducted within the first 24 hours postpartum by a senior obstetrician together with the midwife responsible for the woman's care. The session includes emotional assessment, active listening, clinical explanation of the obstetric event, validation of emotions, and opportunity for questions
  • Active Comparator: Usual Postpartum Care
    Participants receive standard postpartum care, which may include a non-structured clinical explanation of events according to routine practice.

Primary Outcome Measure

Childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms measured by City Birth Trauma Scale (City BiTS) [ Time Frame: 6 weeks postpartum ]

Central Contacts

Related Studies