Improving communication and teamwork during labor: A feasibility, acceptability, and safety study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Shared decision-making (SDM) is recommended for improving labor and delivery care quality.
• Implementation of SDM in labor and delivery units remains inconsistent.
• TeamBirth was developed to enhance SDM practices among care teams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the TeamBirth intervention.
• To assess the impact of TeamBirth on care team communication and patient engagement during labor.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods trial was conducted across four high-volume hospitals.
• Data collected via patient and clinician surveys, clinical data abstraction, and administrative claims.
• Evaluated 2,669 patients and 375 clinicians over a 17-month period.

Main Results:

• High fidelity implementation of TeamBirth was achieved.
• 89% of surveyed patients experienced at least one care team huddle, with multiple huddles linked to higher acceptability.
• 90% of clinicians would recommend TeamBirth; no significant changes in safety measures were observed.

Conclusions:

• TeamBirth is a feasible and acceptable intervention for improving labor and delivery care.
• The intervention demonstrates a positive association with patient experience without compromising safety.
• Further research is recommended to assess TeamBirth's effectiveness on health outcomes and overall care experience.