Antenatal Care Education (ACE) Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Antenatal Care Education (ACE): The co-design and piloting of interventions to improve patient and staff experience through better birth preparedness.
IRAS ID
262911
Contact name
Miriam Toolan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN18018389
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Why is this study important?
Many women have a positive experience of birth, however some identify a gap between their expectations of birth and what happens. This mismatch has been linked with poor experience, distress and anxiety. Being well informed, having coping strategies and feeling in control during labour can enable a positive birth experience.
Antenatal education is available. However, not all women attend the NHS classes and the content varies. As there is limited time to deliver this education, it is important that it is evidence-based, effective and efficient.
What will we do in this study?
1) We will talk with patients about the current antenatal education at North Bristol NHS Trust
2) We will collaborate with women, birth-partners, organisations and staff to co-design a two hour antenatal education session and a short intervention to enable staff to support the coping strategies discussed in the session.Who can take part?
To understand the current antenatal education, we will gather the opinions of women and staff about antenatal education.
To develop the intervention, we will invite women, their birth partners and staff from North Bristol NHS Trust, to take part in public patient involvement, alongside organisations advocating for women.
How long will it last?
1st April 2019 - 31st March 2020.What does taking part mean?
To understand antenatal education there will be 1-2 hour long focus groups with women and staff.
To test the intervention and compare it to standard care we will ask women to complete questionnaires before and after their session and 2 and 6 weeks after the birth of their baby. Birth partners, will be asked to complete a questionnaire. We will ask staff to complete a questionnaire before and after attending a session, and one at 2 months.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0073
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion