The Centre for Maternal and Child Health at the School of Health Science, City, University of London welcomes the qCHOICE research team to discuss their finding on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternity services in relation to induction of labour as part of the research seminar series.
Induction of labour (IOL) is one of the most commonly performed interventions in maternity care, with outpatient cervical ripening increasingly offered as an option for women undergoing IOL. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the context of practice and the option of returning home for cervical ripening may now assume greater significance.
This work aimed to examine whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed practice around IOL in the UK. We used an online questionnaire to survey senior obstetricians and midwives at all 156 UK NHS Trusts and Boards that currently offer maternity services. Responses were analysed to produce descriptive statistics, with free text responses analysed using a conventional content analysis approach.
In this presentation, we will discuss the findings in relation to changes in practice and the variations in how services responded to the pandemic including rates, methods and location of induction.
About CHOICE
CHOICE is a NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme funded study investigating the outcomes of induction of labour started at home (cervical ripening) compared with an in-hospital process, including clinical, psychosocial and cost implications.
The qCHOICE qualitative component of the study uses mixed methods and is focused on understanding the process and experiences of different approaches to the induction of labour from the provider and service user perspectives.
Speakers
Professor Christine McCourt, for the qCHOICE research team: Dr Mairi Harkness, Dr Cassandra Yuill & Professor Helen Cheyne and the wider CHOICE study team, PI Dr Sarah Stock
The work on this survey was led by Mairi Harkness and Cassandra Yuill, research fellows in the CHOICE study at the University of Stirling and City, respectively. Helen Cheyne is the RCM Professor of Midwifery at the University of Stirling and Christine McCourt is Professor of Maternal Health at City, University of London
Please bring your own lunch and refreshments to our virtual seminar.
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