Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: "It's just one of those t hings people don't seem to talk about..." Women's experiences of 
social support following miscarriage: A qualitative study.  
 
Version: 0 Date: 26 Jul 2018  
 
Reviewer: Declan Bradley  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This seems to be a well -conducted qualitative study and very well -written report. The general 
method is appropria te, and the conclusions are supported by the results.  
There is at least one related -but-distinct manuscript concurrently under review.  
The description of methods in this manuscript is limited and a bit disjointed because the authors 
refer to the other pa per, which was not available to me.  
I would certainly want to know more information about the methods and I think it deserves fuller 
description in this manuscript. The coding step is not mentioned, for example. I would want to 
know which steps were done i ndependently by 2 researchers and which were done only by one, 
with some discussion around justification for the decision if only one. I would expect the 
manuscript to be reported in line with the COREQ checklist to ensure that all relevant 
information is reported: http://cdn.elsevier.com/promis_misc/ISSM_COREQ_Checklist.pdf   
 
As I don't have information about the other manuscript, it is not possible for me to know whether 
it is appropriate for the study to be reported in two parts. Assuming that it is it w ould seem 
important to discuss how the findings of this aspect of the study (social support) relate to the 
other manuscript that is under review. What is the relationship between the themes in this report 
and the wider themes identified in the project?  
It would be helpful to list the themes in this study in a box / table to help the reader navigate and 
keep track of which 'headings' relate to a specific conceptual theme.  
In the description of the analysis of demographic information - please describe exactly  what was 
done (i.e. N (%) and median [range]).  
The study appears to have potential to have practical impact - the authors mentioned a further 
study. Are there plans to communicate with women and their networks about some of these 
findings?  
 
The ethics sta tement says that all participants completed written consent forms but the method 
suggests that some only gave verbal consent - please resolve this discrepancy.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what i s required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, p lease explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require furt her 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If you r reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests  
 
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