Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
Sampling for Experimental Group
Access to the men (Experimental group) was from the Foetal
Medicine Unit of a large teaching hospital in London which serves a
large Caucasian, Asian and Afro-Caribbean population. Posters
outlining the study details were also used and located in the
antenatal clinic and the unit itself. Men were also accessed from an
Internet website specifically designed for the study to ensure the
recruitment of a heterogeneous sample. A total of n-282 men
agreed to participate.
(http//www.geocities.com/pregnancyandfathers/).
Given the limited incidence of the Couvade syndrome within the
general UK population and the likelihood of under-recruitment, the
use of a non-probability method of sampling was considered
appropriate. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established in
keeping with the requirements of convenience sampling (Fowler,
2002) due to a range of physical and psychological conditions which
may give rise to similar confounding symptoms, a challenging
methodological problem facing past investigators in the area.
The inclusion criteria:
� Over 18 years of age.
� Can read (study information sheet and consent form), and
write English at a level suitable for the full understanding and
completion of the questionnaires.
� Partner has a confirmed pregnancy for which the recruited
person is the biological father.
� Be willing to complete the two questionnaires on three
occasions.
� Has 4 or more physical or psychological symptoms associated
with the syndrome occurring with the onset of pregnancy.
The exclusion criteria:
� Under 18 years of age.
� Unable to read (study information sheet and consent form),
and write English at a level suitable for the full understanding
and completion of the questionnaires.
� Receiving current treatment for illnesses that might produce
physical symptoms that might give rise to similar symptoms
to those of the syndrome, e.g., inflammatory bowel disease,
viral infections like chronic fatigue syndrome, herpes,
glandular fever, meningitis, thyroid problems, any form of
cancer, anaemia or relevant chronic disease.
� Receiving current treatment for any form of mental disorders
that might produce psychological symptoms that might give
rise to similar symptoms to those of the syndrome, e.g.
depression or manic phases of affective disorder, anxiety
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