Putting co-creation into practice: lessons learned from developing a midwife-led quality improvement intervention

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Newborn Health
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Implementation Science

Background:

• An evidence-to-practice gap exists in integrating evidence-based midwifery practices into maternity care.
• Co-created, midwife-led quality improvement initiatives can enhance healthcare quality and intervention relevance.
• The scientific exploration of co-creating midwife-led quality improvement interventions is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the co-creation process of a midwife-led quality improvement intervention.
• To explore the needs and determinants influencing such interventions.
• To target improvements in evidence-based midwifery practices.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative deductive approach using the Consolidated Framework for Advancing Implementation Science.
• Data collection through interviews, focus groups, observations, and workshops.
• Inclusion of diverse stakeholders: new mothers, birth companions, midwives, policymakers, and doctors.

Main Results:

• The co-creation process involved four stages, establishing midwife champions and a train-the-trainers approach.
• Identified needs included knowledge/skills gaps and resource limitations, but strong relevance and alignment for midwife-led initiatives.
• Priorities for improvement included intrapartum support, birth positions, and perineal protection, informed by stakeholder input.

Conclusions:

• This study offers a practical model for co-creating midwife-led quality improvement interventions.
• The described process is adaptable to various maternity care settings.
• Co-creation ensures interventions are relevant and effectively bridge the evidence-to-practice gap.