Background-A maternity waiting home (MWH) is a facility within easy reach of a hospital or health centre which provides emergency obstetric care (EmOC). Women may stay in the MWH at the end of their pregnancy and await labour. Once labour starts, women move to the health facility so that labour and giving birth can be assisted by a skilled birth attendant. The aim of the MWH is to improve accessibility to skilled care and thus reduce morbidity and mortality for mother and neonate should complications arise. Some studies report a favourable effect on the outcomes for women and their newborns. Others show that utilisation is low and barriers exist. However, these data are limited in their reliability.

Pathology reporting is evolving from a traditional narrative report to a more structured synoptic report. Narrative reporting can cause misinterpretation due to lack of information and structure. In this systematic review, we evaluate the impact of synoptic reporting on completeness of pathology reports and quality of pathology evaluation for solid tumours. Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases were systematically searched to identify studies describing the effect of synoptic reporting implementation on completeness of reporting and quality of pathology evaluation of solid malignant tumours. Thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies, except one, reported an increased overall completeness of pathology reports after introduction of synoptic reporting (SR). Most frequently studied cancers were breast (n = 9) and colorectal cancer (n = 16). For breast cancer, narrative reports adequately described ‘tumour type’ and ‘nodal status’. Synoptic reporting resulted in improved description of ‘resection margins’, ‘DCIS size’, ‘location’ and ‘presence of calcifications’. For colorectal cancer, narrative reports adequately reported ‘tumour type’, ‘invasion depth’, ‘lymph node counts’ and ‘nodal status’. Synoptic reporting resulted in increased reporting of ‘circumferential margin’, ‘resection margin’, ‘perineural invasion’ and ‘lymphovascular invasion’. In addition, increased numbers of reported lymph nodes were found in synoptic reports. Narrative reports of other cancer types described the traditional parameters adequately, whereas for ‘resection margins’ and ‘(lympho)vascular/perineural invasion’, implementation of synoptic reporting was necessary. Synoptic reporting results in improved reporting of clinical relevant data. Demonstration of clinical impact of this improved method of pathology reporting is required for successful introduction and implementation in daily pathology practice.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00428-016-1935-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Background Training of healthcare workers can play an important role in improving quality of care, and reducing maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity.Objectives To assess the effectiveness of training programmes aimed at improving emergency obstetric care in low-resource environments.Search strategy We searched Pubmed, Embase, Popline and selected websites, and manually searched bibliographies of selected articles. Language was not an exclusion criterion.Selection criteria All papers describing postgraduate training programmes aimed at improving emergency obstetric care in low-resource environments were included.Data collection and analysis Two reviewers independently extracted the data and classified these according to the level of the measured effects (reaction of participants, improved knowledge and skills, changes in behaviour and outcomes in practice). Any disagreements were resolved by discussion with a third author until agreement was reached.Main results A total of 38 papers were selected. Training programmes vary considerably in length, content and design. The evaluation of effects is often hampered by inadequate study design and the use of non-validated measuring instruments. Most papers describe positive reactions, increased knowledge and skills, and improved behaviour after training. Outcome is assessed less frequently, and positive effects are not always demonstrated. Measures that can contribute to a positive effect of training programmes include hands-on practise, team approaches and follow-up on training efforts.Author's conclusions Training programmes may improve quality of care, but strong evidence is lacking. Policymakers need to include evaluation and reporting of effects in project budgets for new training programmes.

Background A maternity waiting home (MWH) is a facility within easy reach of a hospital or health centre which provides emergency obstetric care (EmOC). Women may stay in the MWH at the end of their pregnancy and await labour. Once labour starts, women move to the health facility so that labour and giving birth can be assisted by a skilled birth attendant. The aim of the MWH is to improve accessibility to skilled care and thus reduce morbidity and mortality for mother and neonate should complications arise. Some studies report a favourable effect on the outcomes for women and their newborns. Others show that utilisation is low and barriers exist. However, these data are limited in their reliability. Objectives To assess the effects of a maternity waiting facility on maternal and perinatal health. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trials Register (27 January 2012), CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 4 of 4), MEDLINE (1966 to January 2012), EMBASE (1980 to January 2012), CINAHL (1982 to January 2012), African Journals Online (AJOL) (January 2012), POPLINE (January 2012), Dissertation Abstracts (January 2012) and reference lists of retrieved papers. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials including quasi-randomised and cluster-randomised trials that compared perinatal and maternal outcome in women using a MWH and women who did not. Data collection and analysis There were no randomised controlled trials or cluster-randomised trials identified from the search. Main results There were no randomised controlled trials or cluster-randomised trials identified from the search. Authors’ conclusions There is insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of maternity waiting facilities for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.