Train together to work together: Reviewing feedback of community-based skills drills training for midwives and paramedics

Abstract

Homebirth is recommended in the UK for women considered low-risk, but homebirth rates remain low. With the aim of enabling women to safely achieve the birth they want, and enabling midwives to support them in this, a community-based skills drills training session was organised by midwives at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust, and attended by midwives, student midwives, maternity care assistants and paramedics. A questionnaire was given to participants to evaluate the training. A 100% response rate was achieved (n = 36). Results show a positive response from all parties in relation to the setting, which was deemed a more realistic environment for this workforce than that offered by hospital-based training. More funding and research to support this type of training may aid in raising homebirth rates, as well as developing midwives' and paramedics' confidence in dealing with emergencies in such settings.

Organizational strategies to optimize women’s safety during labor and birth: A scoping review

“…The majority of studies were quantitative (n = 35, 70%); fewer were mixed methods (n = 11, 22%) and qualitative studies (n = 4, 8%). The quantitative studies were systematic reviews of randomized control trials (RCT) and/or other studies (n = 4), 35‐38 analytic RCT (n = 2), 39,40 analytic quasi experimental (n = 2), 41,42 analytic observational (n = 10), 43‐52 descriptive survey (n = 10), 53‐62 and descriptive audit (n = 7).…”

“…Nearly half of the studies originated from the United States (n = 24, 48%) 42,44‐47,50,51,53‐55,59,60,62‐67,69‐74 . The remainder were from the UK (n = 9), 6,35,36,52,58,75‐78 Australia (n = 4), 38,49,79,80 Tanzania (n = 2), 41,81 Canada (n = 2), 37,57 and Brazil (n = 2) 61,68 . Single studies originated from Ethiopia, 40 Ireland, 39 Mexico, 82 New Zealand, 48 Scotland, 56 Spain, 43 and Sweden 83 .…”

“…Staff training was implemented in nine studies as an organizational safety strategy 40,49,53,58,70,71,73,75,76 . The main type of staff training was multi‐professional programs in the management of obstetric emergencies, using simulation (n = 5 studies) 49,53,58,76 and one of these studies combined this form of training with a continuous cardiotocography component 75 . Multi‐professional training on Crew/Crisis Resource Management Principles was reported in two studies 71,73 .…”

“… 40,49,70,71,73 These studies combined clinical outcomes, for example, maternal morbidity, alongside outcomes such as the effects staff training had on staff's knowledge and skill, safety culture, and women's perception of quality of care 40,49,70,71,73 . Three staff training studies measured a singular organizational outcome, for example, staff knowledge and skill, 58,75,76 while one staff training study combined organizational outcomes such as staff satisfaction with the training alongside staff's perception of safety culture 53 …”