Fathers' Experiences of Neonatal Palliative Care V1.0

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    What are Father's Experiences of Neonatal Palliative Care?

  • IRAS ID

    355057

  • Contact name

    Felicity Thomas

  • Contact email

    f.thomas@exeter.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Exeter

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 4 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Little is known about the experiences of fathers when their baby receives palliative care in the neonatal period.

    This qualitative interview study, conducted as part of a PhD research project, aims to investigate fathers' lived experiences of the neonatal palliative care journey.

    There are two key strands to this study:

    Strand 1: individual interviews with fathers, or those in a defined paternal role, whose babies have experienced neonatal palliative care and are living in the South West of England will be eligible to take part. Potential participants will be identified by NHS bereavement teams, children's hospices, or charity/support groups working in the South West.

    Strand 2: individual interviews with health and social care professionals who have a remit to support families during their neonatal palliative care journeys, to identify examples of good practice that could inform initiatives to support fathers.

  • REC name

    North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2

  • REC reference

    25/NS/0129

  • Date of REC Opinion

    19 Nov 2025

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion