ParentAge Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  ParentAge Study: Personalised care for women of advanced maternal age, from conception to postnatal care.

• IRAS ID

  343778

• Contact name

  Joanne Rack

• Contact email

  jrack@bournemouth.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Bournemouth University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 1 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  
  The ParentAge Study aims to improve risk communication and individualised care planning between care providers and pregnant women aged 40 and over. As women delay childbirth, it's crucial to ensure that healthcare messages are clear, respectful, and tailored to individual needs. This group, often referred to as women of advanced maternal age (AMA), faces unique challenges and risks during pregnancy. This research will explore how current communication strategies affect AMA women’s perception of risk and subsequent decision making and engagement with healthcare services.

  This mixed methods study will combine research methods to get a detailed picture of how risk is communicated and how that affects perceptions of risk and effective decision making. We will conduct surveys and semi-structured interviews longitudinally across the pregnancy and postnatal period, with a cohort of expectant mothers aged 40 and over to gather their experiences and perspectives.

  The aim is to establish a foundational understanding about risk communication and AMA that will inform the development of a toolkit or bundle of interventions to facilitate improved risk communication and effective decision making for AMA women.
  We wish to create a positive impact on the care and support provided to pregnant individuals of advanced maternal age, promoting respectful and informed maternity care. Using the data collected, we will identify specific areas where communication can be improved. We will then develop a care bundle or toolkit which is a complex intervention aimed at enhancing risk communication and creating individualized care plans.
  Public and Patient Involvement:
  Two PPI groups have been established. The first is made up of women aged 40 or greater who have been or are pregnant and the second group is made up of maternal health care providers. Both groups will be involved throughout the study, providing valuable insights and feedback to ensure the research is relevant and beneficial.

• REC name

  Wales REC 4

• REC reference

  26/WA/0061

• Date of REC Opinion

  27 Mar 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion