Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29304837›Full record

Trial reportTrials2018

Process evaluation for OptiBIRTH, a randomised controlled trial of a complex intervention designed to increase rates of vaginal birth after caesarean section.

Patricia Healy, Valerie Smith, Gerard Savage, Mike Clarke, Declan Devane, Mechthild M Gross, Sandra Morano, Deirdre Daly, Susanne Grylka-Baeschlin, Jane Nicoletti and 4 more

Abstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Trials, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Patricia HealySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. patricia.healy@nuigalway.ie.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0865-7050
Valerie SmithSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Gerard SavageCentre for Public Health, Institute for Health Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Mike ClarkeCentre for Public Health, Institute for Health Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Declan DevaneSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
Mechthild M GrossMidwifery Research and Education Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Sandra MoranoDepartment of Neurologic, Oculist, Gynaecologic, Maternal and Infant Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Deirdre DalySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Susanne Grylka-BaeschlinMidwifery Research and Education Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Jane NicolettiDepartment of Neurologic, Oculist, Gynaecologic, Maternal and Infant Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Marlene SinclairCentre for Maternal, Fetal and Infant Research, Institute of Nursing and Health Research, School of Nursing, Ulster University, Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Rebekah MaguireSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Margaret CarrollSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Cecily BegleySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

Funding

European Union FP7 Grant 305208
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundComplex interventions encompassing several interconnecting and interacting components can be challenging to evaluate. Examining the underlying trial processes while an intervention is being tested can assist in explaining why an intervention was effective (or not). This paper describes a process evaluation of a pan-European cluster randomised controlled trial, OptiBIRTH (undertaken in Ireland, Italy and Germany), that successfully used both quantitative and qualitative methods to enhance understanding of the underlying trial mechanisms and their effect on the trial outcome.

methodsWe carried out a mixed methods process evaluation. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from observation of the implementation of the intervention in practice to determine whether it was delivered according to the original protocol. Data were examined to assess the delivery of the various components of the intervention and the receipt of the intervention by key stakeholders (pregnant women, midwives, obstetricians). Using ethnography, an exploration of perceived experiences from a range of recipients was conducted to understand the perspective of both those delivering and those receiving the intervention.

resultsEngagement by stakeholders with the different components of the intervention varied from minimal intensity of women's engagement with antenatal classes, to moderate intensity of engagement with online resources, to high intensity of clinicians' exposure to the education sessions provided. The ethnography determined that, although the overall culture in the intervention site did not change, smaller, more individual cultural changes were observed. The fidelity of the delivery of the intervention scored average quality marks of 80% and above on repeat assessments.

conclusionNesting a process evaluation within the trial enabled the observation of the mode of action of the intervention in its practice context and ensured that the intervention was delivered with a good level of consistency. Implementation problems were identified as they arose and were addressed accordingly. When dealing with a complex intervention, collecting and analysing both quantitative and qualitative data, as we did, can greatly enhance the process evaluation.

trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials Register, ISRCTN10612254 . Registered on 3 April 2013.

Indexed as

Delivery of Health CareProcess Assessment, Health CareAdultAnthropology, CulturalCultural CharacteristicsEuropeFemaleHumansMidwiferyObstetricsPatient Care TeamPatient ParticipationPregnancyQualitative ResearchStakeholder ParticipationTreatment OutcomeComplex interventionEthnographyFidelityMidwiferyProcess evaluationRandomised controlled trialVBAC

Identifiers

PMID29304837
PMCPMC5756437

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.