AHRQ Study Describes Effective Use of Corticosteroids To Reduce Preterm Birth Complications

Corticosteroids can reduce complications of preterm birth, but not all eligible women receive them, according to an AHRQ-funded study. The study identifies the key processes and supports needed to ensure that a treatment known as antenatal corticosteroids (ANCS) is given to eligible expectant mothers. In this study, researchers conducted focus groups and interviews with providers, including nurses, obstetricians, physician trainees and certified nurse midwives. Six themes supporting reliable implementation of ANCSs emerged: presence of a high-reliability culture, processes that emphasize high reliability, timely and efficient administration process, involvement of multiple disciplines, evidence of benefit that supports antenatal corticosteroid use and benefit is recognized at all levels of the care team. The article, “Reliable Implementation of Evidence: A Qualitative Study of Antenatal Corticosteroid Administration in Ohio Hospitals,” and abstract were published June 8 in BMJ Quality & Safety.

2015 Jun 8. pii: bmjqs-2015-003984. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-003984. [Epub ahead of print]

Reliable implementation of evidence: a qualitative study of antenatal corticosteroid administration in Ohio hospitals.

Kaplan HC1, Sherman SN2, Cleveland C3, Goldenhar LM3, Lannon CM3, Bailit JL4.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Antenatal corticosteroids (ANCS) reduce complications of preterm birth; however, not all eligible women receive them. Many hospitals and providers do not have the right processes and conditions to enable ANCS administration with high reliability. The objective of this study was to understand conditions that enable delivery of ANCS with high reliability among hospitals participating in an Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative (OPQC) ANCS project.

METHODS:

We conducted focus groups and semistructured interviews with members of the OPQC project team (n=27) and other care providers (n=70) using a purposeful sample of 6 sites involved in the OPQC ANCS project. Participants including nurses (n=57), attending obstetricians (n=17), physician trainees (n=21) and certified nurse midwives (n=2) were asked to reflect on their experiences and to identify factors contributing to optimal use of ANCS. Focus groups and interviews were transcribed verbatim and were analysed by a multidisciplinary team using an iterative approach that combined inductive and deductive methods to identify and categorise themes.

RESULTS:

Six major themes supporting reliable implementation of ANCS at these hospitals emerged including: (1) presence of a high reliability culture, (2) processes that emphasise high reliability, (3) timely and efficient administration process, (4) multiple disciplines are involved, (5) evidence of benefit supports ANCS use and (6) benefit is recognised at all levels of the care team.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings identify the key processes and supports needed to ensure delivery of ASCS with high reliability and are reinforced by implementation and reliability science. They are useful for foundation of the successful implementation of other evidence-based practices at high levels of reliability.

Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.