Abstract (eng)
The present study provides an exploratory evaluation trial of antenatal classes focusing on the expectant father in St. Josef Spital Vienna. 121 pairs were asked to fill out questionnaires, before and after attending the course, regarding the father's well-being, the fatherly experiences and the father-identity.
With this study, the effectiveness of held antenatal classes in St. Josef Spital Vienna was mainly confirmed. Also differences between self- and external assessment were ascertained. The coherence between overlasting paternal welfare and father-identity as a supporting factor of the father's well-being found by Eickhorst (2008) could be replicated in this study. In addition, the study results support published data regarding socio-demographic factors. For future research, it is conceivable to insert more survey dates, in order to follow the development of various dimensions or even to do postnatal interviews, to determine the actual practical use of antenatal classes.