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Promoting Awareness Fetal Movements to Reduce Fetal Mortality Stillbirth, a Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomised Trial.

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Pregnancy
Decreased Fetal Movements Affecting Care of Mother
Stillbirth
Registration Number
NCT01777022
Lead Sponsor
University of Edinburgh
Brief Summary

Rates of stillbirth in Scotland are among the highest in resource rich countries. The majority of stillbirths occur in normally formed infants, with (retrospective) evidence of placental insufficiency being the commonest clinical finding. Maternal perception of decreased fetal movements appears to be an early biomarker both of placental insufficiency and subsequent stillbirth.

The study proposed here will test the hypothesis that rates of stillbirth will be reduced by introduction of a package of care consisting of strategies for increasing pregnant women's awareness of the need for prompt reporting of decreased fetal movements, followed by a management plan for identification of placental insufficiency with timely delivery in confirmed cases. The odds of stillbirth fell by 30% after the introduction of a similar package of care in Norway but the efficacy of this intervention (and possible adverse effects and implications for service delivery) have not been tested in a randomized trial.

The investigators plan a stepped wedge cluster design trial, in which hospitals in Scotland and Ireland will be randomized to the timing of introduction of the care package. Outcomes (including the primary outcome of stillbirth) will be derived from Scotland and Ireland's detailed routinely collected maternity data, allowing the investigators to robustly test the hypothesis. A nested qualitative study will examine the acceptability of the intervention to patients and health care providers and identify process issues (barriers to implementation).

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
430830
Inclusion Criteria
  • The study will include all women delivering at one of the maternity units involved in for the duration of the study.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Women delivering in the "washout" period in each unit.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rates of stillbirth36 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rates of induction of labour36 Months
Rates of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit36 Months
Rates of caesarean section36 months
Proportion of women with fetal growth restriction36 Months

Trial Locations

Locations (29)

National Maternity Hospital

🇮🇪

Dublin, Ireland

Rotunda Hospital

🇮🇪

Dublin, Ireland

Stepping Hill Hospital

🇬🇧

Stockport, Cheshire, United Kingdom

Royal Gwent Hospital

🇬🇧

Newport, Gwent, United Kingdom

Saint Mary's hospital

🇬🇧

Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom

NHS Lothian

🇬🇧

Edinburgh, Lothian, United Kingdom

Birmingham Women's Hospital

🇬🇧

Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom

St. Richards Hospital

🇬🇧

Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Worthing Hospital

🇬🇧

Worthing, West Sussex, United Kingdom

Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

🇬🇧

Leeds, Yorkshire, United Kingdom

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National Maternity Hospital
🇮🇪Dublin, Ireland

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