Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39334250›Full record

ArticleTrials2024

The OBS UK Dashboard: an interactive tool for representative trial site selection to facilitate equality and diversity in maternity research.

Amy Elsmore, Tanvi Rai, Philip Pallmann, Julia Townson, Sarah Kotecha, Mairead Black, Julia Sanders, Rachel Collis, Peter Collins, Bala Karunakaran and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Trials, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

13 authors.

Amy ElsmoreThe Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, Telford, UK. a.c.elsmore@keele.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4669-4266
Tanvi RaiNuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Philip PallmannCentre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Julia TownsonCentre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Sarah KotechaCentre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Mairead BlackUniversity of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Julia SandersSchool of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Rachel CollisCardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK.
Peter CollinsCentre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Bala KarunakaranThe Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, Telford, UK.
Pensee WuSchool of Medicine, Keele University, Keele, UK.
Sarah Bell *Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, UK.
William Parry-Smith *The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, Telford, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundObstetric Bleeding Study UK (OBS UK) (award ID: 152057) is a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial of a complex intervention for postpartum haemorrhage. This was developed in Wales and evaluated in a feasibility study, with improvements in maternal outcomes observed. Generalisability of the findings is limited by lack of control data and limited ethnic diversity in the Welsh obstetric patient population compared to the United Kingdom (UK): 94% of the Welsh population identifies as White, versus 82% in the UK. Non-White ethnicity and socioeconomic deprivation are linked to increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes. Traditionally, decisions regarding site selection are based on desire to complete trials on target in 'tried and tested' research active institutions. To ensure widespread applicability of the results and investigate the impact of ethnicity and social deprivation on trial outcomes, maternity units were recruited that represent the ethnic diversity and social deprivation profiles of the UK.

methodUsing routinely collected, publicly available data, an interactive dashboard was developed that demonstrates the demographics of the population served by each maternity unit in the UK, to inform site recruitment. Data on births per year, ethnic and socioeconomic group of the population for each maternity unit, across the UK, were integrated into the dashboard.

resultsThe dashboard demonstrates that OBS UK trial sites reflect the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of the UK (study vs UK population ethnicity: White 79.2% vs 81.7%, Asian 10.5% vs 9.3%, Black 4.7% vs 4.0%, Mixed 2.5% vs 2.9%, Other 3.0% vs 2.1%) with variation in site demography, size and location. Missing data varied across sites and nations and is presented.

conclusionThe NIHR equality, diversity and inclusion strategy states studies must widen participation, facilitating individuals from all backgrounds to engage. The development of this novel interactive dashboard demonstrates an innovative way of achieving this. National Health Service (NHS) maternity researchers should consider using this tool to enhance diversity in research, address health disparities and improve generalisability of findings. This approach could be applied to healthcare settings beyond maternity care and across different global populations.

trial registrationISRCTN 17679951. Registered on August 30, 2023.

Indexed as

Dashboard SystemsPatient SelectionPostpartum HemorrhageCultural DiversityEthnicityFeasibility StudiesFemaleHealthcare DisparitiesHumansPregnancyRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRoutinely Collected Health DataSocioeconomic FactorsUnited KingdomWalesEquality and diversity in researchHealth inequalitiesIndex of Multiple DeprivationMaternity careTrial site selection

Identifiers

PMID39334250
PMCPMC11429411

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.