Effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low-risk childbirth practice: a multicentre prospective study

Abstract Background Care for low-risk childbirths constitutes a large proportion of deliveries and is highly influenced by factors such as region, birthing facilities, and health care providers. Audit and feedback as a quality indicator (QI) intervention alone have limited effectiveness. Multidiscip...

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Main Authors: Kayo Ueda, Mai Takeshita, Yoshimitsu Takahashi, Hatoko Sasaki, Naoki Ozu, Takeo Nakayama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07681-2
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author Kayo Ueda
Mai Takeshita
Yoshimitsu Takahashi
Hatoko Sasaki
Naoki Ozu
Takeo Nakayama
author_facet Kayo Ueda
Mai Takeshita
Yoshimitsu Takahashi
Hatoko Sasaki
Naoki Ozu
Takeo Nakayama
author_sort Kayo Ueda
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Care for low-risk childbirths constitutes a large proportion of deliveries and is highly influenced by factors such as region, birthing facilities, and health care providers. Audit and feedback as a quality indicator (QI) intervention alone have limited effectiveness. Multidisciplinary approaches, including QI and organizational development, are reportedly effective; however, the impact on low-risk childbirth care remains unclear. We aimed to assess the impact of multifaceted intervention, including audit and feedback, on improving care for low-risk childbirths using QIs. Methods We conducted a 1-year pre–post comparison targeting healthy pregnant women in four obstetric wards in Japan. The intervention included audit and feedback combined with multifaceted approaches, improvement efforts by a multidisciplinary team, and educational training on health care quality and organizational culture. The outcomes were 12 QIs. The main analysis used interrupted time-series analysis over 6 months pre- and post-intervention. We compared the 9 months pre-intervention with 3 months post-intervention in secondary analysis to assess delayed effects. Results We included 288 women pre-intervention and 167 women post-intervention. “The spontaneous vaginal delivery indicator showed a significant increase in slope (risk ratio [RR] 1∙08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1∙00–1∙16, p < 0∙05), indicating a trend-based improvement rather than an immediate change per month in the main analysis. Secondary analysis showed a significant increase in the administration of uterotonic agents during the third stage of labour (RR 1∙19, 95% CI: 1∙01–1∙41, p < 0∙05). Conclusion The improvement effects of multifaceted interventions, including audit and feedback, using QIs for low-risk childbirths were limited. However, some indicators may improve over time, suggesting a potential delayed effect. Trial registration Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-98ee6d5768ba4b39a5a0f21e8628fa9a2025-08-20T03:10:31ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-05-0125111310.1186/s12884-025-07681-2Effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low-risk childbirth practice: a multicentre prospective studyKayo Ueda0Mai Takeshita1Yoshimitsu Takahashi2Hatoko Sasaki3Naoki Ozu4Takeo Nakayama5Department of Nursing Women’s Health & Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing, Nara Medical University School of MedicineDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public HealthDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public HealthShizuoka Graduate University of Public HealthInstitute for Clinical and Translational Science, Nara Medical University HospitalDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public HealthAbstract Background Care for low-risk childbirths constitutes a large proportion of deliveries and is highly influenced by factors such as region, birthing facilities, and health care providers. Audit and feedback as a quality indicator (QI) intervention alone have limited effectiveness. Multidisciplinary approaches, including QI and organizational development, are reportedly effective; however, the impact on low-risk childbirth care remains unclear. We aimed to assess the impact of multifaceted intervention, including audit and feedback, on improving care for low-risk childbirths using QIs. Methods We conducted a 1-year pre–post comparison targeting healthy pregnant women in four obstetric wards in Japan. The intervention included audit and feedback combined with multifaceted approaches, improvement efforts by a multidisciplinary team, and educational training on health care quality and organizational culture. The outcomes were 12 QIs. The main analysis used interrupted time-series analysis over 6 months pre- and post-intervention. We compared the 9 months pre-intervention with 3 months post-intervention in secondary analysis to assess delayed effects. Results We included 288 women pre-intervention and 167 women post-intervention. “The spontaneous vaginal delivery indicator showed a significant increase in slope (risk ratio [RR] 1∙08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1∙00–1∙16, p < 0∙05), indicating a trend-based improvement rather than an immediate change per month in the main analysis. Secondary analysis showed a significant increase in the administration of uterotonic agents during the third stage of labour (RR 1∙19, 95% CI: 1∙01–1∙41, p < 0∙05). Conclusion The improvement effects of multifaceted interventions, including audit and feedback, using QIs for low-risk childbirths were limited. However, some indicators may improve over time, suggesting a potential delayed effect. Trial registration Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07681-2Audit and feedbackQuality improvementQuality of health careQuality indicatorsObstetric deliveryMidwifery
spellingShingle Kayo Ueda
Mai Takeshita
Yoshimitsu Takahashi
Hatoko Sasaki
Naoki Ozu
Takeo Nakayama
Effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low-risk childbirth practice: a multicentre prospective study
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Audit and feedback
Quality improvement
Quality of health care
Quality indicators
Obstetric delivery
Midwifery
title Effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low-risk childbirth practice: a multicentre prospective study
title_full Effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low-risk childbirth practice: a multicentre prospective study
title_fullStr Effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low-risk childbirth practice: a multicentre prospective study
title_full_unstemmed Effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low-risk childbirth practice: a multicentre prospective study
title_short Effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low-risk childbirth practice: a multicentre prospective study
title_sort effect of a multifaceted intervention with audit and feedback on low risk childbirth practice a multicentre prospective study
topic Audit and feedback
Quality improvement
Quality of health care
Quality indicators
Obstetric delivery
Midwifery
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07681-2
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