Innovation in Practice: Preparing Doulas to Support Cesarean Births

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Patient-Centered Care
• Doula Support

Background:

• Patient-centered care initiatives in labor and birth are expanding.
• Implementation of patient-centered care within the operating room setting remains limited.
• Doulas can bridge this gap by facilitating evidence-based practices during cesarean births.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a curriculum designed to train doulas for operating room support during cesarean births.
• To assess the effectiveness of the training in preparing doulas for patient-centered care in this setting.

Main Methods:

• Development of a specialized curriculum and training method for doulas.
• Focus on educating doulas to provide safe and effective care during cesarean birth.
• Evaluation of the training's impact on doulas' skills and confidence.

Main Results:

• The training intervention demonstrated effectiveness in enhancing doulas' self-perceived confidence.
• Skills essential for supporting patients during cesarean births were improved.
• The curriculum successfully prepared doulas for operating room care.

Conclusions:

• The developed curriculum and training method are effective for preparing doulas.
• This model can address barriers to implementing patient-centered, evidence-based care in the operating room.
• Doula support can improve the cesarean birth experience.