This is a step-wedge design implementation protocol of an interprofessional education curriculum intervention that is delivered through virtual reality and designed to reduce disparities and improve patient experiences in receiving maternal healthcare.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
32,000
The IPC training will be delivered to health team members who provide intrapartum and/or postpartum maternity care at each facility. Individuals with roles as maternity care providers, nurses, lactation consultants or doulas whose primary inpatient clinical assignment is maternity care will be included in the training. The training will consist of a pre-session module (about 60 minutes), a 90-minute interprofessional collaboration session, delivered using virtual reality head-sets, and post-session modules (about 60 minutes). The pre- and post-session modules will be delivered through an online learning platform.
Prior to implementation of the IPC training, birthing people at the facilities will receive treatment-as-usual
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Severe Postpartum Pain
Proportion of individuals with severe pain postpartum. Severe pain will be defined as pain score \>4 on postpartum day 1 following vaginal birth, or pain score \>7 on postpartum day 2 following cesarean birth, as documented in the electronic health record using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) of patient-reported pain from 0-10.
Time frame: 0 to <24 and 24 to <48 hours postpartum
Birthing parent-reported experiences of the respectful care (Qualitative)
Based on semi-structured interviews with a subset of birthing parents, the investigators will report the count of qualitative interview participants who described their care as "respectful" during semi-structured interviews with birthing parents.
Time frame: 2-8 weeks postpartum
Patient-reported examples of respectful and equitable health care team member practices (Qualitative)
Based on semi-structured interviews with a subset of birthing parents, the investigators will identify respectful and equitable health care team member practices in a thematic coded content analysis of transcribed responses. For the top three practices identified, the count of participants naming each practice will be reported.
Time frame: 2-8 weeks postpartum
Patient-reported examples of supportive health team member practices for pain management (Qualitative)
Based on semi-structured interviews with a subset of birthing parents, the investigators will identify supportive health team member practices for pain management in a thematic coded content analysis of transcribed responses. For the top three practices identified, the count of participants naming each practice will be reported.
Time frame: 2-8 weeks postpartum
Pain assessments
Number of instances of pain score assessments on a 0-10 scale that are documented in the birthing parent's medical record.
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Time frame: 0 to <24 and 24 to <48 hours postpartum
NSAID doses administered
Number of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) doses administered to the birthing parent, as documented in the medication administration record (MAR).
Time frame: 0 to <24 and 24 to <48 hours postpartum
MMEs administered
Number of Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MMEs) of opioids administered to the birthing parent, as documented in the medication administration record (MAR).
Time frame: 0 to <24 and 24 to <48 hours postpartum
Acetaminophen doses administered
Number of Acetaminophen doses administered to the birthing parent, as documented in the medication administration record (MAR).
Time frame: 0 to <24 and 24 to <48 hours postpartum
Healthcare team members' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration
Using the modified Interprofessional Attitudes Scale (IPAS), attitudes of health care team members toward collaboration will be assessed. The IPAS is a 5-point Likert scale with scores ranging from 27 to 135, with higher scores reflecting more positive attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration.
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and after completing the IPC training intervention, a total of up to 4 months
Quality of interprofessional teamwork
Utilizing the modified Assessment for Collaborative Environments (ACE) Scale, health care team member perceptions of interprofessional communication will be assessed. The modified ACE is a 4-point Likert scale with scores ranging from 6 to 24, with higher scores reflecting better quality interprofessional teamwork.
Time frame: Baseline (pre-intervention) and after completing the IPC training intervention, a total of up to 4 months
Feasibility of the IPC training
Based on semi-structured interviews collected post intervention among a subset of health care team members, the investigators will conduct thematic coded content analysis of transcribed responses. The investigators will report the count of health care team members who described the intervention as feasible. Feasibility is defined as a positive rating about the intervention's potential performance in real-life conditions in birthing hospitals.
Time frame: 2-8 weeks after health care team members' completion of the IPC training