Abstract

We aimed to establish, for the 19 maternity hospitals and units in the Republic of Ireland, the extent and nature of the provision of education and training opportunities for staff on perinatal bereavement care and factors that influenced their implementation. We administered a survey electronically to staff in each of the 19 maternity hospitals and units, December 2023-February 2024. We mapped findings relating to implementation influences to a framework known as the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals and units detailed education and training programmes they offered. Most provided one education or training programme (n=10). Programmes offered were primarily bespoke study days or information sessions. Implementation barriers and facilitators mapped onto 26/67 CFIR constructs and sub-constructs: (1) Innovation (4/8); (2) Outer setting (3/10); (3) Inner setting (6/21); (4) Individuals (8/13); (5) Implementation process (5/15). Our study highlights the lack of standardisation of perinatal bereavement care education and training programmes. It also identifies factors that influence their implementation which can be harnessed in developing, implementing or scaling-up programmes nationally.