Established Evidence Results

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT/CONSUMER, Educational Material, Other Person-to-Person Education, Motivational Interviewing, Other Education, Intensive Therapy, Peer Counselor

Intervention Description: This report describes tobacco use prevalence among perinatal smokers identified through an "opt-out" inpatient smoking cessation clinical service.

Intervention Results: Between February 2014 and March 2016, 533 (10%) current and 898 (16%) former smokers were identified out of 5649 women admitted to the perinatal units. Current smokers reported an average of 11 cigarettes per day for approximately 12 years. Only 10% reported having made a quit attempt in the past year. The majority of smokers (56%) were visited by a bedside tobacco cessation counselor during their stay and 27% were contacted through the IVR system. Those counselled in the hospital were twice as likely (RR 1.98, CI 1.04-3.78) to be abstinent from smoking using intent-to-treat analysis at any time during the 30 days post-discharge.

Conclusion: This opt-out service reached a highly nicotine-dependent perinatal population, many of whom were receptive to the service, and it appeared to improve abstinence rates post-discharge. Opt-out tobacco cessation services may have a significant impact on the health outcomes of this population and their children.

Study Design: Quasi experimental cross sectional evaluation

Setting: Academic medical center

Population of Focus: Smokers admitted to the perinatal units

Data Source: In-patient records and follow up phone surveys

Sample Size: 5649

Age Range: Not specified

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT/CONSUMER, Peer Counselor, Intensive Therapy, CAREGIVER, Motivational Interviewing/Counseling

Intervention Description: We tested the efficacy of a behavioral counseling approach with underserved maternal smokers to reduce infant’s and preschooler’s secondhand smoke exposure.

Intervention Results: Participation in Philadelphia Family Rules for Establishing Smokefree Homes (FRESH) behavioral counseling was associated with lower child cotinine (β=-0.18, p=0.03) and reported tobacco smoke exposure (β=-0.57, p=0.03) at the end of treatment. Mothers in behavioral counseling smoked fewer cigarettes/day (β=-1.84, p=0.03) and had higher bioverified quit rates compared with controls (13.8% vs 1.9%, χ(2)=10.56, p<0.01). There was no moderating effect of other smokers living at home.

Conclusion: FRESH behavioral counseling reduces child secondhand smoke exposure and promotes smoking quit rates in a highly distressed and vulnerable population.

Study Design: Two-arm randomized trial

Setting: Community (home and telephone)

Population of Focus: Underserved children’s exposure to tobacco smoke

Data Source: Participants were recruited from lowincome neighborhoods in North and West Philadelphia

Sample Size: 300 families

Age Range: Not specified

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT/CONSUMER, Intensive Therapy, PATIENT_CONSUMER, Psychoeducation

Intervention Description: Higher rates of obstetric intervention and caesarean section (CS) are experienced in fearful women. The efficacy of interventions to reduce childbirth fear is unclear, with no previous randomised controlled trials reporting birth outcomes or postnatal psychological wellbeing following a midwife led intervention. The outcomes of the RCT on obstetric outcomes, maternal psychological well-being, parenting confidence, birth satisfaction, and future birth preference were analysed by intention to treat and reported here.

Intervention Results: Compared to controls the intervention group had a clinically meaningful but not statistically significant reduction in overall caesarean section (34 % vs 42 %, p = 0.27) and emergency CS rates (18 % vs 25 %, p = 0.23). Fewer women in the intervention group preferred caesarean section for a future pregnancy (18 % vs 30 %, p = 0.04). All other obstetric variables remained similar. There were no differences in postnatal depression symptoms scores, parenting confidence, or satisfaction with maternity care between groups, but a lower incidence of flashbacks about their birth in the intervention group compared to controls (14 % vs 26 %, p = 0.05). Postnatally women who received psycho-education reported that the ‘decision aid’ helped reduce their fear (53 % vs 37 %, p = 0.02).

Conclusion: Following a brief antenatal midwife-led psycho-education intervention for childbirth fear women were less likely to experience distressing flashbacks of birth and preferred a normal birth in a future pregnancy. A reduction in overall CS rates was also found. Psycho-education for fearful women has clinical benefits for the current birth and expectations of future pregnancies.

Study Design: RCT

Setting: 3 antenatal clinics in three teaching hospitals

Population of Focus: Nulliparous women with measured fear of childbirth who gave birth after recruitment between May 2012 and June 20132,4

Data Source: Not specified

Sample Size: Total (n=104) Intervention (n=51) Control (n=53)

Age Range: Not Specified

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT/CONSUMER, Educational Material, Intensive Therapy, Peer Counselor, Motivational Interviewing, Telephone Support, CAREGIVER, Educational Material (caregiver), Motivational Interviewing/Counseling

Intervention Description: To develop and test an intervention to reduce children’s exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) at homes in Yerevan, Armenia.

Intervention Results: Hair nicotine concentration in the child was 17% lower in the intervention group. The follow-up survey revealed an increased proportion of households with smoking restrictions and decreased exposure of children to SHS in both groups. The adjusted odds of children’s less-than-daily exposure to SHS was 1.87 times higher in the intervention group and the geometric mean of mothers’ knowledge scores at follow-up was 10% higher in that group.

Conclusion: Intensive intervention is effective in decreasing children’s exposure to SHS through educating mothers and promoting smoking restrictions at home. However, superiority over minimal intervention to decrease children’s exposure was not statistically significant.

Study Design: RCT

Setting: Home visits

Population of Focus: Households with a nonsmoking mother and at least 1 child 2-6 years of age residing with at least 1 daily smoker

Data Source: Measures of air quality and child hair nicotine; parent self-report.

Sample Size: 250 households

Age Range: Not specified

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): HOSPITAL, Peer-Review of Provider Decisions, Elective Induction Policy, Guideline Change and Implementation, PATIENT_CONSUMER, Intensive Therapy, Psychoeducation

Intervention Description: We conducted a retrospective study was conducted in the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) including all births between the 1st January 1997 and 31st December 2011 to analyze the cesarean section (CS) rate using the different groups of the Robson classification in a Swiss maternity hospital.

Intervention Results: The overall CS rate was 29 %, mainly related to group 5 (multiparous with previous CS) and group 2 (nulliparous women induced or who had CS before labor). The study also shows that induction of labor on maternal request in nulliparous at term (group 2a) increased significantly the risk of CS compared to induction of labor for medical reason (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The Robson classification system appears as a simple tool for monitoring CS rates. The main strategies for reducing CS rates will be through better selection of women for VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) and limitation of induction of labor, especially in nulliparous women.

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Multicomponent School-Based Program, Presentation/meeting/information Session (Classroom), CLASSROOM_SCHOOL, Intensive Therapy, PATIENT_CONSUMER

Intervention Description: To examine the secondary effects of a personality-targeted intervention on bullying and harms among adolescent victims and bullies.

Intervention Results: There was no significant intervention effect for bullying victimization or perpetration in the total sample. In the subsample, mixed models showed greater reductions in victimization (b = -0.208, 95% CI -0.4104 to -0.002, p < .05), suicidal ideation (b = -0.130, 95% CI -0.225 to -0.034, p < .01), and emotional symptoms (b = -0.263, 95% CI -0.466 to -0.061, p < .05) among high-risk victims in Preventure versus control schools. Conduct problems (b = -0.292, 95% CI -0.554 to -0.030, p < .05) showed greater reductions among high-risk bullies in Preventure versus control schools, and suicidal ideation showed greater reductions among high-risk female bullies in Preventure versus control schools (b = -0.820, 95% CI -1.198 to -0.442, p < .001).

Conclusion: The findings support targeting personality in bullying prevention.

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Childbirth Education Classes, Intensive Therapy

Intervention Description: As an adjunct to standard antennal education, courses in complementary labor and delivery therapies were conducted at one of the two hospital venues over a 15-month period from May 2012 to August 2013. The underlying philosophy and specific techniques covered were designed to support a woman during pregnancy and labor by introducing tools to enhance a natural state of relaxation (visualization, yoga postures, breathing techniques, massage, acupuncture, and facilitated partner support. The courses present the concept of birth as a natural physiological process and teach methods to help laboring patients manage pain using complementary tools. The Complementary Therapies for Labour and Birth (CTLB) study protocol was based on the She Births Antenatal Education Program, with an acupressure component.

Intervention Results: There was a significant difference in epidural use between the 2 groups: study group (23.9%) standard care (68.7%; risk ratio (RR) 0.37 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.55), p≤0.001). The study group participants reported a reduced rate of augmentation (RR=0.54 (95% CI 0.38 to 0.77), p<0.0001); caesarean section (RR=0.52 (95% CI 0.31 to 0.87), p=0.017); length of second stage (mean difference=-0.32 (95% CI -0.64 to 0.002), p=0.05); any perineal trauma (0.88 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.98), p=0.02) and resuscitation of the newborn (RR=0.47 (95% CI 0.25 to 0.87), p≤0.015). There were no statistically significant differences found in spontaneous onset of labour, pethidine use, rate of postpartum haemorrhage, major perineal trauma (third and fourth degree tears/episiotomy), or admission to special care nursery/neonatal intensive care unit (p=0.25).

Conclusion: The Complementary Therapies for Labour and Birth study protocol significantly reduced epidural use and caesarean section. This study provides evidence for integrative medicine as an effective adjunct to antenatal education, and contributes to the body of best practice evidence.

Setting: Two public hospitals in Syndney, Australia

Population of Focus: Low-risk nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT/CONSUMER, Intensive Therapy, PATIENT_CONSUMER, Psychoeducation, HOSPITAL, Hospital Laborist

Intervention Description: To compare the numbers of vaginal deliveries and delivery satisfaction among women with fear of childbirth randomised to either psychoeducation or conventional surveillance during pregnancy.

Intervention Results: Women randomised to the intervention group more often had spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD) than did controls (63.4% versus 47.5%, P = 0.005) and fewer caesarean sections (CSs) (22.9% versus 32.5%, P = 0.05). SVD was more frequent and CSs were less frequent among those who actually participated in intervention (n = 90) compared with controls who had been referred to consultation (n = 106) (SVD: 65.6% versus 47.2%, P = 0.014; CS: 23.3% versus 38.7%, P = 0.031). Women in intervention more often had a very positive delivery experience (36.1% versus 22.8%, P = 0.04, n = 219).

Conclusion: To decrease the number of CSs, appropriate treatment for fear of childbirth is important. This study shows positive effects of psychoeducative group therapy in nulliparous women with severe fear of childbirth in terms of fewer CSs and more satisfactory delivery experiences relative to control women with a similar severe fear of childbirth.

Study Design: RCT

Setting: 1 maternity unit

Population of Focus: Nulliparous women with a measured fear of childbirth who gave birth after enrollment at antenatal clinics between October 2007 and August 20095

Data Source: Not specified

Sample Size: Total (n=371) Intervention (n=131) Control (n=240)

Age Range: Not Specified

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): Intensive Therapy, PATIENT/CONSUMER, PATIENT_CONSUMER

Intervention Description: To compare intensive and conventional therapy for severe fear of childbirth.

Intervention Results: Birth-related concerns decreased in the intensive therapy group but increased in the conventional therapy group (linear interaction between the group and birth-concerns P =.022). Labor was shorter in the intensive therapy group (mean +/- standard deviation 6.8 +/- 3.8 hours) compared with the conventional group (8.5 +/- 4.8 hours, P =.039). After intervention, 62% of those originally requesting a cesarean (n = 117) chose to deliver vaginally, equally in both groups. Cesarean was more frequent for those who refused to fill in the questionnaires than for those who completed them (57% compared with 27%, P =.001). In the log-linear model, parous women who had conventional therapy and refused to fill in the questionnaires chose a cesarean more often than expected (standardized residual 2.54, P =.011). There were no differences between groups in satisfaction with childbirth or in puerperal depression.

Conclusion: Both kinds of therapy reduced unnecessary cesareans, more so in nulliparous and well-motivated women. With intensive therapy, pregnancy- and birth-related anxiety and concerns were reduced, and labors were shorter.

Study Design: RCT

Setting: 1 university hospital

Population of Focus: Nulliparous women with a measured fear of childbirth who gave birth after enrollment between August 1996 and July 19992,6

Data Source: Not specified

Sample Size: Total (n=90) Intervention (n=44) Control (n=46)

Age Range: Not Specified

Intervention Components (click on component to see a list of all articles that use that intervention): PATIENT_CONSUMER, Intensive Therapy

Intervention Description: The aim of this study was to analyse the risk of obstetrical interventions and complications among nulliparous women, in spontaneous labour at term with one foetus in cephalic presentation (Robson 12), in sensory delivery rooms with spectral light settings compared with the light settings in the standard delivery rooms. The primary outcomes were the use of additional oxytocin during labour and the risk of caesarean delivery. In this observational study of 789 women, 313 gave birth in a sensory room and 476 in a standard delivery room. Sensory delivery rooms offer programmable calming lights (Fig. 1) with low irradiance, restful blurred pictures displayed on a wall-sized big screen, and sound effects.

Intervention Results: The risk of a caesarean delivery was significantly decreased when giving birth in a sensory room compared with a standard delivery room (OR, multiple adjusted: 0.44; 95% CI 0.22–0.87); furthermore, the use of oxytocin infusion was also reduced (OR, multiple adjusted: 0.71; 95% CI 0.50–1.03).

Conclusion: This observational cohort study suggests that giving birth in a sensory delivery room could lower the risk of caesarean delivery, potentially reducing the number of such deliveries by one for every 23 patients.

Setting: Nulliparous, term pregnant women having a single baby with a cephalic presentation who were in spontaneous labour

Population of Focus: North Zealand Hospital, Hillerød