Impact of a quality improvement project to reduce the rate of obstetric anal sphincter injury: a multicentre study with a stepped-wedge design: OASI care bundle

Mandie Scamell, Jim Thornton, Katherine Hales, Mary Renfew, Hannah Dahlen, Margret Jowit, Soo Downe, Lindsay Gillman, Nicky Grace, Octavia Wiseman, Jane Forman, Nicky Grace, Deborah Davis, Anna Marie Madeley, Debbie Chippington, Lorna Lawther, Ethel Burns

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the impact of a care bundle (antenatal information to women, manual perineal protection and mediolateral episiotomy when indicated) on obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) rates.

Design
Multicentre stepped-wedge cluster design.

Setting
Sixteen maternity units located in four regions across England, Scotland and Wales.

Population
Women with singleton live births between October 2016 and March 2018.

Methods
Stepwise region by region roll-out every 3 months starting January 2017. The four maternity units in a region started at the same time. Multi-level logistic regression was used to estimate the impact of the care bundle, adjusting for time trend and case-mix factors (age, ethnicity, body mass index, parity, birthweight and mode of birth).

Main outcome measures
Obstetric anal sphincter injury in singleton live vaginal births.

Results
A total of 55 060 singleton live vaginal births were included (79% spontaneous and 21% operative). Median maternal age was 30 years (interquartile range 26–34 years) and 46% of women were primiparous. The OASI rate decreased from 3.3% before to 3.0% after care bundle implementation (adjusted odds ratio 0.80, 95% CI 0.65–0.98, P = 0.03). There was no evidence that the effect of the care bundle differed according to parity (P = 0.77) or mode of birth (P = 0.31). There were no significant changes in caesarean section (P = 0.19) or episiotomy rates (P = 0.16) during the study period.

Conclusions
The implementation of this care bundle reduced OASI rates without affecting caesarean section rates or episiotomy use. These findings demonstrate its potential for reducing perineal trauma during childbirth.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)174-175
Number of pages2
JournalBJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Volume129
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2022

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of a quality improvement project to reduce the rate of obstetric anal sphincter injury: a multicentre study with a stepped-wedge design: OASI care bundle'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this