"The communication and support from the health professional is incredibly important": A qualitative study exploring the processes and practices that support parental decision-making about postmortem examination.

Background: Consent rates for postmortem (PM) examination in the perinatal and paediatric setting have dropped significantly in the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Western Europe. We explored the factors that act as facilitators or barriers to consent and identified processes and practices that support parental decision-making.

Methods: A qualitative study conducted with bereaved parents, parent advocates, and health care professionals in the United Kingdom.

Minimally invasive autopsy for fetuses and children based on a combination of post-mortem MRI and endoscopic examination: a feasibility study.

Background: Less invasive perinatal and paediatric autopsy methods, such as imaging alongside targeted endoscopy and organ biopsy, may address declining consent rates for traditional autopsy, but their acceptability and accuracy are not known.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to provide empirical data on the acceptability and likely uptake for different types of autopsy among key stakeholders (study 1); and to analyse existing autopsy data sources to provide estimates of the potential efficacy of less invasive autopsy (LIA) and its projected utility in clinical practice (study 2).

Review Methods: Study 1: this was a mixed-methods study.

Stakeholder views and attitudes towards prenatal and postnatal transplantation of fetal mesenchymal stem cells to treat Osteogenesis Imperfecta.

The Boost Brittle Bones Before Birth (BOOSTB4) clinical trial is investigating the safety and efficacy of transplanting fetal derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) prenatally and/or in early postnatal life to treat severe Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). This study aimed to explore stakeholder views to understand perceived benefits or concerns, identify ethical issues and establish protocols for support and counselling. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with three groups; 1.

Exploring the impact of Osteogenesis Imperfecta on families: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic condition whose key characteristic is increased bone fragility. OI has the potential to impact upon all family members, making it important to consider the challenges families face, how they cope and their support needs as the affected individual moves from childhood through to adult life.

Objective: To conduct a mixed-methods systematic review investigating the experiences of families when a family member is affected with OI.

"We might get a lot more families who will agree": Muslim and Jewish perspectives on less invasive perinatal and paediatric autopsy.

Background: Perinatal and paediatric autopsy rates are at historically low levels with declining uptake due to dislike of the invasiveness of the procedure, and religious objections particularly amongst Muslim and Jewish parents. Less invasive methods of autopsy including imaging with and without tissue sampling have been shown to be feasible alternatives. We sought to investigate attitudes including religious permissibility and potential uptake amongst members of the Muslim and Jewish communities in the United Kingdom.