An Initiative to Reduce the Episiotomy Rate: Association of Feedback and the Hawthorne Effect With Leapfrog Goals

Changing minds: The impact of introducing evidence-based practices around the use of episiotomy in a South Indian Tertiary Centre

BACKGROUND

Episiotomies are still a routine procedure during childbirth in India, reflecting the misconceptions and lack of knowledge in the traditional training programs. There is a marked variation in the use of episiotomy between doctors and midwives. This study was conducted to ascertain and gain insight into this inequality in practice.

METHODS

Retrospective data of spontaneous vaginal births across all units of a tertiary care center in South India from 2014 to 2021 was retrieved from medical records. First the total number of episiotomies, who performed them and indications were analysed. In the second part of the study, a questionnaire was distributed among doctors and midwives to delve into their knowledge and attitudes towards using episiotomy.

FINDINGS

Of the 35253 spontaneous vaginal births over seven years, 28 % had an episiotomy. Midwives performed 22 % of them and obstetricians did the remaining. The most common indication was presumed fetal compromise. There was a reduction in episiotomy rates from 21 % to 5 % in midwifery practice and 45 % to 35 % for doctors over the study period. The second part of the study revealed a significant difference in the attitudes of doctors and midwives. Doctors leaned in favor of episiotomies despite the contrary evidence.

CONCLUSION

Successful institution of any change in behavior needs an understanding of the perception and attitude towards the change. A focus on respectful maternity care, hospital policies based on scientific evidence and an enabling environment for training and education can avoid unnecessary birth practices not recommended for healthy pregnant women.

Defining and evaluating the Hawthorne effect in primary care, a systematic review and meta-analysis

In 2015, we conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in primary care to evaluate if posters and pamphlets dispensed in general practice waiting rooms enhanced vaccination uptake for seasonal influenza. Unexpectedly, vaccination uptake rose in both arms of the RCT whereas public health data indicated a decrease. We wondered if the design of the trial had led to a Hawthorne effect (HE). Searching the literature, we noticed that the definition of the HE was unclear if stated. Our objectives were to refine a definition of the HE for primary care, to evaluate its size, and to draw consequences for primary care research. We designed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses review and meta-analysis between January 2012 and March 2022. We included original reports defining the HE and reports measuring it without setting limitations. Definitions of the HE were collected and summarized. Main published outcomes were extracted and measures were analyzed to evaluate odds ratios (ORs) in primary care. The search led to 180 records, reduced on review to 74 for definition and 15 for quantification. Our definition of HE is "an aware or unconscious complex behavior change in a study environment, related to the complex interaction of four biases affecting the study subjects and investigators: selection bias, commitment and congruence bias, conformity and social desirability bias and observation and measurement bias." Its size varies in time and depends on the education and professional position of the investigators and subjects, the study environment, and the outcome. There are overlap areas between the HE, placebo effect, and regression to the mean. In binary outcomes, the overall OR of the HE computed in primary care was 1.41 (95% CI: [1.13; 1.75]; I 2 = 97%), but the significance of the HE disappears in well-designed studies. We conclude that the HE results from a complex system of interacting phenomena and appears to some degree in all experimental research, but its size can considerably be reduced by refining study designs.

Health care workers' perceptions of episiotomy in the era of respectful maternity care: a qualitative study of an obstetric training program in Mexico

BACKGROUND

Episiotomy in Mexico is highly prevalent and often routine - performed in up to 95% of births to primiparous women. The WHO suggests that episiotomy be used in selective cases, with an expected prevalence of 15%. Training programs to date have been unsuccessful in changing this practice. This research aims to understand how and why this practice persists despite shifts in knowledge and attitudes facilitated by the implementation of an obstetric training program.

METHODS

This is a descriptive and interpretative qualitative study. We conducted 53 pre and post-intervention (PRONTO© Program) semi-structured interviews with general physician, gynecologists and nurses (N = 32, 56% women). Thematic analysis was carried out using Atlas-ti© software to iteratively organize codes. Through interpretive triangulation, the team found theoretical saturation and explanatory depth on key analytical categories.

RESULTS

Themes fell into five major themes surrounding their perceptions of episiotomy: as a preventive measure, as a procedure that resolves problems in the moment, as a practice that gives the clinician control, as a risky practice, and the role of social norms in practicing it. Results show contradictory discourses among professionals. Despite the growing support for the selective use of episiotomy, it remains positively perceived as an effective prophylaxis for the complications of childbirth while maintaining control in the hands of health care providers.

CONCLUSIONS

Perceptions of episiotomy shed light on how and why routine episiotomy persists, and provides insight into the multi-faceted approaches that will be required to affect this harmful obstetrical practice.

Knowledge, attitude and experience of episiotomy practice among obstetricians and midwives: a cross-sectional study from China

OBJECTIVE

Episiotomy is still performed widely by obstetricians and midwives in some Chinese maternity units, but the reasons are unknown. This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude and experience towards the practice of episiotomy among obstetricians and midwives in China's public hospitals and consider strategies to reduce its practice.

METHODS

A cross-sectional web survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted among obstetricians and midwives in 90 public hospitals in Henan Province, China.

RESULTS

900 (82.21%) participants completed the questionnaire. Average knowledge level (4.15, SD=1.10) on complications and overuse was identified among participants. Episiotomy was performed more frequently in secondary hospitals than in tertiary hospitals (p<0.05). Senior clinicians were more likely to perform episiotomy than younger ones (p<0.05). Almost half of the clinicians (42.11%) considered the current rate of episiotomy (45%) to be right or too low. The most common reason for performing episiotomy identified by obstetricians (83.94%) and midwives (79.69%) was to reduce third-degree or fourth-degree perineal laceration. Both obstetricians (80.29%) and midwives (82.57%) agreed that the most significant obstacle to reducing the rate of episiotomy was lack of training on reducing perineal tears.

CONCLUSION

In sum, episiotomy was driven by previous training, practitioners' experience and local norms rather than the latest medical evidence. Clinicians in secondary hospitals and senior clinicians are key training targets. It is urgent to improve current clinical policies and surgical procedure guidelines for obstetricians and midwives regarding episiotomy.

Episiotomy: a medicolegal vicious cycle

The present study aimed to analyze the litigation trends and ensuing compensatory damages brought about by the use of episiotomy, in order to outline a set of cautionary rules meant to limit the scope of legreal aftermath for both doctors and health care facilities. The authors have set out to gain an insight into the controversial practice of episiotomy, in light of available research data and official positions of various scientific and medical associations, with a close focus on the legal and medical viability of the procedure itself. Court data and trial records have been taken into account as well, via searches into legal databases and search engines (Justia, Lexis, Jurist.org, Venice Courthouse, etc.). This review showed that most episiotomy-related lawsuits stemmed from a routine use of that procedure, which is almost universally advised against, and without valid informed consent having been gained. Ultimately, authors have seen fit to underscore the need for patients potentially eligible for an episiotomy (selective episiotomy) to receive thorough and understandable information in a timely fashion including the necessity and the effectiveness of the procedure as well as the risks involved, so that a well-informed decision can be made based on factual data.

Selective use of episiotomy: what is the impact on perineal trauma? Results from a retrospective cohort study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effects of selective use of episiotomy on perineal trauma.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study on consecutive vaginal deliveries from January 2010 to December 2016. From January 2010 to December 2011 episiotomy was performed liberally, based only on individual midwife/doctor's decision. Since January 2012, a shared selective use of episiotomy policy has been introduced. To evaluate the range of perineal trauma in spontaneous second-degree perineal tears, a sub-classification of second-degree lacerations has been introduced dividing them into two sub-groups: A (smaller than the average episiotomy) and B (spontaneous vaginal tear larger than the average episiotomy). The primary outcomes were the incidence and type of perineal trauma, with the proportion of type A and type B second-degree spontaneous tears under a policy of selective episiotomy.

RESULTS

Deliveries not exposed to selective use of episiotomy were 1583 (Group 1), those exposed to selective use of episiotomy were 6409 (Group 2). In Group 2 episiotomy rate decreased, and incidence of intact perineum, first- and second-degree lacerations increased. The incidence of third- and fourth-degree lacerations did not change. Spontaneous second-degree lacerations occurred in 19.4% and 36.8% of women in group 1 and 2, respectively. With a selective episiotomy policy, 88.3% of second-degree tears was classified as type A.

CONCLUSIONS

The selective use of episiotomy is clinically feasible and effective. This policy seems to be associated with a lower delivery-related perineal trauma as showed by the sub-classification, that could be a useful tool to monitor obstetric care.

Hawthorne effect on surgical studies

BACKGROUND

The Hawthorne effect or 'observer effect' describes a change in normal behaviour when individuals are aware they are being observed. This may have an impact on effect estimates in clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to determine if the Hawthorne effect had been recorded as a risk of bias in surgical studies.

METHODS

A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses compliant literature search was conducted till March 2019. Eligible studies included those reporting or not reporting the Hawthorne effect in surgical studies from the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, AMED, BNI, HMIC, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and OpenGrey. Two reviewers independently reviewed the papers, extracted data and appraised study methods using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale or the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were analysed descriptively.

RESULTS

A total of 842 papers were identified, of which 16 were eligible. Six (37%) observational studies were identified with the aim of measuring the Hawthorne effect on their outcome with five reporting that the Hawthorne effect was responsible for the improvements in outcomes and one reporting no change in outcome due to the Hawthorne effect. Ten (63%) studies were identified, of which eight used the Hawthorne effect as an explanation to improvements seen in the control group or their secondary outcomes and two to compare their results with other studies.

CONCLUSION

There is considerable between-study heterogeneity on how the Hawthorne effect relates to surgical outcomes. Further consideration on reporting and considering the importance of the Hawthorne effect in the design of surgical trials is warranted.

How did episiotomy rates change from 2007 to 2014? Population-based study in France

BACKGROUND

Since the 2000s, selective episiotomy has been systematically recommended worldwide. In France, the recommended episiotomy rate in vaginal deliveries is less than 30%. The aims of this study were to describe the evolution of episiotomy rates between 2007 and 2014, especially for vaginal deliveries without instrumental assistance and to assess individual characteristics and birth environment factors associated with episiotomy.

METHODS

This population-based study included all hospital discharge abstracts for all deliveries in France from 2007 to 2014. The use of episiotomy in vaginal deliveries was identified by one code in the French Common Classification of Medical Procedures. The episiotomy rate per department and its evolution is described from 2007 to 2014. A mixed model was used to assess associations with episiotomy for non-operative vaginal deliveries and the risk factors related to the women's characteristics and the birth environment.

RESULTS

There were approximately 540,000 non-operative vaginal deliveries per year, in the study period. The national episiotomy rate for vaginal deliveries overall significantly decreased from 26.7% in 2007 to 19.9% in 2014. For non-operative deliveries, this rate fell from 21.1% to 14.1%. For the latter, the use of episiotomy was significantly associated with breech vaginal delivery (aOR = 1.27 [1.23-1.30]), epidural analgesia (aOR = 1.45 [1.43-1.47]), non-reassuring fetal heart rate (aOR = 1.47 [1.47-1.49]), and giving birth for the first time (aOR = 3.85 [3.84-4.00]).

CONCLUSIONS

The episiotomy rate decreased throughout France, for vaginal deliveries overall and for non-operative vaginal deliveries. This decrease is probably due to proactive changes in practices to restrict the number of episiotomies, which should be performed only if beneficial to the mother and the infant.