Abstract
Objective: To assess implementation of safety strategies to improve management of births complicated by shoulder dystocia in labor and delivery units. Design: Mixed-methods implementation evaluation. Setting/Local Problem: Labor and delivery units (N = 18) in 10 states participating in the Safety Program for Perinatal Care (SPPC). Shoulder dystocia is unpredictable, requiring rapid and coordinated action. Participants: Key informants were labor and delivery unit staff who implemented SPPC safety strategies. Intervention/Measurements: The SPPC was implemented by using the TeamSTEPPS teamwork and communication framework and tools, applying safety science principles (standardization, independent checks, and learn from defects) to shoulder dystocia management, and establishing an in situ simulation program focused on shoulder dystocia to practice teamwork and communication skills. Unit staff received training, a toolkit, technical assistance, and unit-specific feedback reports. Quantitative data on unit-reported process improvement measures and qualitative data from staff interviews were used to understand changes in use of safety principles, teamwork/communication, and in situ simulation. Results: Use of shoulder dystocia safety strategies improved on the units. Differences between baseline and follow-up (10 months) were as follows: in situ simulation (50% vs. 89%), teamwork and communication (67% vs. 94%), standardization (67% to 94%), learning from defects (67% vs. 89%), and independent checks (56% vs. 78%). Interview data showed reasons to address management of shoulder dystocia, various approaches to implement safety practices, and facilitators and barriers to implementation. Conclusion: Successful management of shoulder dystocia requires a rapid, standardized, and coordinated response. The SPPC strategies to increase safety of shoulder dystocia management are scalable, replicable, and adaptable to unit needs and circumstances.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 191-201 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | JOGNN - Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality under contract no. HHSA2902010000241, Task Order 3 to RTI International. Asta Sorensen, MA, is a senior scientist in the Program on Health Care Quality and Outcomes, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC. Christina I. Fowler, PhD, MPH, is a research scientist in the Center for Advanced Methods Development, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC. Samantha Sommerness, DNP, APRN, CNM, is a clinical assistant professor in the School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Katrina Burson, RN, MS, is a research analyst in the Clinical Research Network Center, RTI International, Rockville, MD. Leila Kahwati, MD, MPH, is a senior research scientist in the Social & Health Organizational Research & Evaluation Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 AWHONN, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Keywords
- labor and delivery
- patient safety
- perinatal care
- quality improvement
- shoulder dystocia
