The experiences of pregnant women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period about bad news: A qualitative study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Disseminating bad news in the field of medical sciences poses challenges for patients and their families. This is particularly important in cases of high-risk pregnancies, where cultural differences across cities and countries can impact the attitudes and experiences of pregnant women when receiving and coping with unpredictable and stressful situations. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the experiences of pregnant women in hearing bad news during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period in 2024. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative study will utilize a conventional content analysis approach. The sample will consist of 30 pregnant women in the perinatal period, and data collection will continue until data saturation is achieved. The research will take place in both public and private hospitals in Isfahan city. Data will be collected through individual, in-depth, open, and semistructured interviews as well as through observation and field note-taking. Participants will be selected through purposeful sampling, specifically targeting pregnant women attending public and private hospitals in Isfahan. Data analysis will be conducted using the inductive analysis method developed by Granheim and Lundman. CONCLUSION: This study will shed light on the experiences of mothers with high-risk pregnancies during the perinatal period, regarding the communication of bad news by healthcare professionals. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have employed this approach, making the findings of this study valuable in informing health policies and improving the quality of care, particularly within the sociocultural context of Iran.