evaluate the impact of a care bundle (antenatal information to women, manual perineal protection and mediolateral episiotomy when indicated) on obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) rates: Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research Paper, QEUH, UK

Objective
To evaluate the impact of a care bundle (antenatal information to women, manual perineal protection, and mediolateral episiotomy when indicated) on obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) rates.

Design
Multicentre stepped-wedge cluster design.

Setting Sixteen maternity units located in four regions across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Population
Women with singleton live births between October 2016 and March 2018.

Methods
Stepwise region by region roll-out every 3 months starting January 2017. The four maternity units in a region started at the same time. Multi-level logistic regression was used to estimate the impact of the care bundle, adjusting for time trend and case-mix factors (age, ethnicity, body mass index, parity, birth weight, and mode of birth).

main outcome measures
Obstetric anal sphincter injury in singleton live vaginal births.

Results
A total of 55 060 singleton live vaginal births were included (79% spontaneous and 21% operative). The median maternal age was 30 years (interquartile range 26–34 years) and 46% of women were primiparous. The OASI rate decreased from 3.3% before to 3.0% aftercare bundle implementation (adjusted odds ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.65–0.98, P = 0.03). There was no evidence that the effect of the care bundle differed
according to parity (P = 0.77) or mode of birth (P = 0.31). There were no significant changes in cesarean section(P = 0.19) or episiotomy rates (P = 0.16) during the study period.

Conclusions
The implementation of this care bundle reduced OASI rates without affecting cesarean section rates of episiotomy use. These findings demonstrate its potential for reducing perineal trauma during childbirth.

Keywords
Obstetric anal sphincter injury, perineal tear, quality improvement.

Tweetable abstract
OASI Care Bundle reduced severe perineal tear rates without affecting cesarean section rates of episiotomy use.

Answer

Request Answer of this Assignment