Perinatal GriefNCT07723170
Comparison of Social Media-Based and Online Training in Grief Counseling Education
A study testing Social Media-Based Perinatal Grief Counseling Education and Online Perinatal Grief Counseling Education in people with Perinatal Grief and Perinatal Loss, run by Istinye University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized trial aims to compare the effectiveness of two digital educational approaches for perinatal grief counseling training among midwives and nurses working in perinatal care settings in Türkiye: a social media-based education program delivered through Instagram and an online education program delivered… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Perinatal Grief, Perinatal Loss, Bereavement
- What is being tested?
- Social Media-Based Perinatal Grief Counseling Education and Online Perinatal Grief Counseling Education
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 27 Jul 2026to 30 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Midwives or nurses currently working in perinatal care settings in Türkiye.
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Own a smartphone and have regular internet access.
- Able to actively use Instagram and Zoom.
- Provide informed consent to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- Previous training in perinatal grief counseling.
- Failure to participate regularly in the educational intervention.
- Failure to complete the study assessments.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Istinye University, Faculty of Health Sciences
Istanbul
Ayşe İrem Gökçek, Dr,PhD, 05356476880, gokcek.airem@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Comparison of Social Media-Based and Online Training in Grief Counseling Education: A Randomized Controlled Head-to-Head Study
This randomized trial aims to compare the effectiveness of two digital educational approaches for perinatal grief counseling training among midwives and nurses working in perinatal care settings in Türkiye: a social media-based education program delivered through Instagram and an online education program delivered through Zoom. Both groups will receive the same six-module perinatal grief counseling education content, but through different delivery methods.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two study groups. Outcomes will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after completion of the 6-week training program, and 4 weeks after the intervention. The study will evaluate changes in participants' competency and confidence in providing perinatal grief care and compare the sustainability of learning outcomes between the two digital education models.
Read the detailed description
Perinatal loss can have profound psychological effects on affected families. Midwives and nurses play an important role in providing emotional support and grief care following perinatal loss. However, healthcare professionals may have limited training and confidence in providing perinatal grief counseling. Structured education may improve their competency and confidence in delivering bereavement care.
This study will compare a competency-based perinatal grief counseling education program delivered through two digital models: social media-based learning using Instagram and synchronous online learning using Zoom. The educational content was developed from a previously validated competency framework established through a Delphi consensus study. Both groups will receive the same six-module educational content and learning objectives; only the mode of delivery will differ.
The study is designed as a two-arm randomized trial. Participants will complete assessments before the intervention, immediately after the training, and four weeks after completion of the intervention. The study will examine whether the digital delivery method affects competency and confidence in providing perinatal grief care and whether the learning outcomes are maintained over time.
- Conditions
- Perinatal Grief, Perinatal Loss, Bereavement
- Being tested
- Social Media-Based Perinatal Grief Counseling Education, Online Perinatal Grief Counseling Education
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Social Media-Based Perinatal Grief Counseling EducationBehavioural
A six-week structured perinatal grief counseling education program delivered through Instagram using asynchronous posts, stories, reels, videos, quizzes, and interactive activities.
Online Perinatal Grief Counseling EducationBehavioural
A six-week structured perinatal grief counseling education program delivered through synchronous Zoom sessions, including presentations, case discussions, interactive activities, and role-play exercises.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media-Based Education Group | Experimental | Participants in this group will receive a six-week perinatal grief counseling education program through a private Instagram account. Educational content will be delivered using posts, stories, reels, videos, quizzes, and interactive activities. Receives: Behavioral: Social Media-Based Perinatal Grief Counseling Education |
| Online Education Group | Experimental | Participants in this group will receive the same six-module perinatal grief counseling education program through synchronous Zoom sessions over six weeks. Sessions will include presentations, case discussions, interactive activities, and role-play exercises. Receives: Behavioral: Online Perinatal Grief Counseling Education |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Perinatal Bereavement Care Competency
This scale was developed by Shen et al. in 2022 to measure the grief care competence of midwives providing care to women experiencing perinatal death. Gökçek and Keser Özcan established its Turkish validity and reliability. The scale consists of 23 items and has six sub-dimensions: Maintaining Faith, Knowing, Being Together, Maintaining Esteem, Empowerment, and Self-Regulation. Each item is answered using a five-point Likert scale (Strongly Disagree=1, Disagree=2, Undecided=3, Agree=4, Strongly Agree=5), resulting in a minimum score of 23 and a maximum score of 115. Higher scores indicate greater competence in perinatal grief counselling. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale ranged from 0.69 to 0.87 for the sub-dimensions and was 0.92 for the entire scale.
Measured: Baseline, immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention, and 4 weeks after the intervention.
Perinatal Bereavement Care Confidence
This scale, developed by Kalu et al. in 2019, measures midwives' and nurses' perceived competence in providing care to families experiencing perinatal loss. Dursun and Akkuş conducted the Turkish adaptation and reliability study of the scale. The scale consists of 35 items across four sub-dimensions: knowledge of grief support, grief support skills, self-awareness, and organizational support. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree). Some statements are reverse scored (e.g., items 7, 11, and 33). Each sub-dimension is evaluated independently, and the total score is not calculated. In the original scale development study, the Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the sub-dimensions ranged from 0.70 to 0.87.
Measured: Baseline, immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention, and 4 weeks after the intervention.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Participant Evaluation of the Educational Program
Participants' evaluation of the educational program using a researcher-developed Education Evaluation Form.
Measured: Immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jul 2026
- Study start27 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Perinatal GriefStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Istinye UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in parallel to one of three study arms: social media-based education delivered through Instagram, online education delivered through Zoom, or a wait-list control group. The two intervention groups will receive the same perinatal grief counseling education content through different delivery methods.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istinye University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ayşe İrem Gökçek, Istinye University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07723170
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- EBE_ISU_1
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 24 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 24 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Comparison of Social Media-Based and Online Training in Grief Counseling Education: A Randomized Controlled Head-to-Head Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07723170
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EBE_ISU_1
- Conditions
- Perinatal Grief, Perinatal Loss, Bereavement
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Istinye UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 27 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized trial aims to compare the effectiveness of two digital educational approaches for perinatal grief counseling training among midwives and nurses working in perinatal care settings in Türkiye: a social media-based education program delivered through Instagram and an online education program delivered through Zoom. Both groups will receive the same six-module perinatal grief counseling education content, but through different delivery methods.
Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two study groups. Outcomes will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after completion of the 6-week training program, and 4 weeks after the intervention. The study will evaluate changes in participants' competency and confidence in providing perinatal grief care and compare the sustainability of learning outcomes between the two digital education models.
Detailed description
Perinatal loss can have profound psychological effects on affected families. Midwives and nurses play an important role in providing emotional support and grief care following perinatal loss. However, healthcare professionals may have limited training and confidence in providing perinatal grief counseling. Structured education may improve their competency and confidence in delivering bereavement care.
This study will compare a competency-based perinatal grief counseling education program delivered through two digital models: social media-based learning using Instagram and synchronous online learning using Zoom. The educational content was developed from a previously validated competency framework established through a Delphi consensus study. Both groups will receive the same six-module educational content and learning objectives; only the mode of delivery will differ.
The study is designed as a two-arm randomized trial. Participants will complete assessments before the intervention, immediately after the training, and four weeks after completion of the intervention. The study will examine whether the digital delivery method affects competency and confidence in providing perinatal grief care and whether the learning outcomes are maintained over time.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned in parallel to one of three study arms: social media-based education delivered through Instagram, online education delivered through Zoom, or a wait-list control group. The two intervention groups will receive the same perinatal grief counseling education content through different delivery methods.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media-Based Education Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Social Media-Based Perinatal Grief Counseling EducationParticipants in this group will receive a six-week perinatal grief counseling education program through a private Instagram account. Educational content will be delivered using posts, stories, reels, videos, quizzes, and interactive activities. |
| Online Education Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Online Perinatal Grief Counseling EducationParticipants in this group will receive the same six-module perinatal grief counseling education program through synchronous Zoom sessions over six weeks. Sessions will include presentations, case discussions, interactive activities, and role-play exercises. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Midwives or nurses currently working in perinatal care settings in Türkiye.
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Own a smartphone and have regular internet access.
- Able to actively use Instagram and Zoom.
- Provide informed consent to participate in the study.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Previous training in perinatal grief counseling.
- Failure to participate regularly in the educational intervention.
- Failure to complete the study assessments.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Social Media-Based Perinatal Grief Counseling EducationA six-week structured perinatal grief counseling education program delivered through Instagram using asynchronous posts, stories, reels, videos, quizzes, and interactive activities. | Behavioural | Social Media-Based Education Group |
| Online Perinatal Grief Counseling EducationA six-week structured perinatal grief counseling education program delivered through synchronous Zoom sessions, including presentations, case discussions, interactive activities, and role-play exercises. | Behavioural | Online Education Group |
Primary outcome
Perinatal Bereavement Care Competency
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention, and 4 weeks after the intervention.
This scale was developed by Shen et al. in 2022 to measure the grief care competence of midwives providing care to women experiencing perinatal death. Gökçek and Keser Özcan established its Turkish validity and reliability. The scale consists of 23 items and has six sub-dimensions: Maintaining Faith, Knowing, Being Together, Maintaining Esteem, Empowerment, and Self-Regulation. Each item is answered using a five-point Likert scale (Strongly Disagree=1, Disagree=2, Undecided=3, Agree=4, Strongly Agree=5), resulting in a minimum score of 23 and a maximum score of 115. Higher scores indicate greater competence in perinatal grief counselling. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale ranged from 0.69 to 0.87 for the sub-dimensions and was 0.92 for the entire scale.
Perinatal Bereavement Care Confidence
Time frame: Baseline, immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention, and 4 weeks after the intervention.
This scale, developed by Kalu et al. in 2019, measures midwives' and nurses' perceived competence in providing care to families experiencing perinatal loss. Dursun and Akkuş conducted the Turkish adaptation and reliability study of the scale. The scale consists of 35 items across four sub-dimensions: knowledge of grief support, grief support skills, self-awareness, and organizational support. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree). Some statements are reverse scored (e.g., items 7, 11, and 33). Each sub-dimension is evaluated independently, and the total score is not calculated. In the original scale development study, the Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the sub-dimensions ranged from 0.70 to 0.87.
1 secondary outcome
Participant Evaluation of the Educational Program
Time frame: Immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 24 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Walk With Me (WWM) for Perinatal Grief
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A Feasibility Randomised Control Trial to Evaluate Early Perinatal Bereavement Counselling for Parents Who Have Experienced a Perinatal Death
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Social Media-Based Perinatal Grief Counseling Education and Online Perinatal Grief Counseling Education in people with Perinatal Grief and Perinatal Loss, run by Istinye University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Ayşe İrem PhD Gökçek, Dr (05356476880, gokcek.airem@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Perinatal Bereavement Care Competency (time frame: Baseline, immediately after completion of the 6-week intervention, and 4 weeks after the intervention.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Jul 2026.