Exploring the value, use and impact of the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines: A mixed methods evaluation
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Published on: January 12, 2018
Tanya Millard1, Tsharni Zazryn1, Caroline Homer2
1Australian Living Evidence Collaboration, Cochrane Australia, School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Background:
The Clinical Practice Guidelines: Pregnancy Care aim to ensure that women in Australia receive consistent, high-quality, evidence-based maternity care. We undertook an impact evaluation to assess the awareness, value and use of the Pregnancy Care Guidelines.
Methods:
We used mixed methods, involving online surveys and semi-structured interviews. Online surveys collecting both quantitative and qualitative data were distributed to (1) health professionals providing maternity care in Australia and (2) policy makers/decision makers involved in pregnancy care. They explored participants' awareness and use of the guideline, resources used to guide clinical practice and policy making, the perceived value of the guideline, and their perceived strengths, limitations and opportunities for improvement. Interviews were conducted with purposively sampled representatives to supplement the survey data, and further explore guideline use, strengths, limitations and opportunities for improvement.
Results:
A total of 357 surveys were received and 12 interviews were conducted. Participants described the value of the guidelines in providing a strong, evidence-based foundation from which to guide pregnancy care in Australia. Awareness and use of the guidelines, however, was limited. Many participants felt that the guidelines do not adequately cover all the important areas of clinical practice for pregnancy care. The need for active dissemination, translation and implementation of the guidelines was emphasised, along with the need to ensure that recommendations are kept up to date.
Conclusion:
The Pregnancy Care Guidelines are a valuable resource for providers of pregnancy care in Australia. However more active promotion and support for implementation into practice are needed if they are to achieve their potential to improve care for women during pregnancy, and outcomes for mothers and babies. The findings of this impact evaluation will be used to inform the next updated version of these guidelines and their transition into living guidelines.
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