Promoting informed decision making about maternal pertussis vaccination: the systematic development of an online tailored decision aid and a centering-based group antenatal care intervention.

Introduction: Maintaining and enhancing vaccine confidence continues to be a challenge. Making an informed decision not only helps to avoid potential future regret but also reduces susceptibility to misinformation. There is an urgent need for interventions that facilitate informed decision-making about vaccines. This paper describes the systematic development of two interventions designed to promote informed decision making and indirectly, acceptance of maternal pertussis vaccination (MPV) in the Netherlands. Materials and methods: The 6-step Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol was used for the development of an online tailored decision aid and Centering Pregnancy-based Group Antenatal Care (CP) intervention. A needs assessment was done using empirical literature and conducting a survey and focus groups (1), intervention objectives were formulated at the behavior and determinants levels (2), theoretical methods of behavior change were selected and translated into practical applications (3), which were further developed into the two interventions using user-centered design (4). Finally, plans were developed for implementation (5), and evaluation (6) of the interventions. Results: The needs assessment showed that pregnant women often based their decision about MPV on information sourced online and conversations with their partners, obstetric care providers, and peers. Responding to these findings, we systematically developed two interactive, theory-based interventions. We created an online tailored decision aid, subjecting it to four iterations of testing among pregnant women, including those with low literacy levels. Participants evaluated prototypes of the intervention positively on relevance and usability. In addition, a CP intervention was developed with midwives. Conclusion: Using IM resulted in the creation of an online decision aid and CP intervention to promote informed decision making regarding MPV. This description of the systematic development of the interventions not only serves to illustrate design rationales, it will also aid the interpretation of the evaluation of the interventions, the development of future interventions promoting informed decision and acceptance of vaccines, and comparisons with other interventions.

The Effect of CenteringPregnancy Group Antenatal Care on Maternal, Birth, and Neonatal Outcomes Among Low-Risk Women in the Netherlands: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial.

INTRODUCTION: This study was carried out to assess the effects of participating in CenteringPregnancy (CP) on maternal, birth, and neonatal outcomes among low-risk pregnant women in the Netherlands. METHODS: A total of 2124 pregnant women in primary care were included in the study. Data were derived from the Dutch national database, Perined, complemented with data from questionnaires completed by pregnant women. A stepwise-wedge design was employed; multilevel intention-to-treat analyses and propensity score matching were the main analytic approaches. Propensity score matching resulted in sample sizes of 305 nulliparous women in both the individual care (IC) and the matched control group (control-IC) and 267 in the CP and control-CP groups. For multiparous women, 354 matches were found for IC and control-IC groups and 152 for CP and control-CP groups. Main outcome measures were maternal, birth, and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: Compared with the control-CP group receiving standard antenatal care, nulliparous women participating in CP had a lower risk of maternal hypertensive disorders (odds ratio [OR], 0.53; 95% CI, 0.30-0.93) and for the composite adverse maternal outcome (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.33-0.82). Breastfeeding initiation rates were higher amongst nulliparous (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 134-3.69) and multiparous women (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.00-2.62) participating in CP compared with women in the control-CP group. CONCLUSION: Nulliparous women in CP were at lower risk of developing hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and, consequently, at lower risk of having adverse maternal outcomes. The results confirmed our hypothesis that both nulliparous and multiparous women who participated in CP would have higher breastfeeding rates compared with women receiving standard antenatal care.

Maternal satisfaction with group care: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This review examined the quantitative relationship between group care and overall maternal satisfaction compared with standard individual care. DATA SOURCES: We searched CINAHL, Clinical Trials, The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from the beginning of 2003 through June 2023. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included studies that reported the association between overall maternal satisfaction and centering-based perinatal care where the control group was standard individual care. We included randomized and observational designs. METHODS: Screening and independent data extraction were carried out by 4 researchers. We extracted data on study characteristics, population, design, intervention characteristics, satisfaction measurement, and outcome. Quality assessment was performed using the Cochrane tools for Clinical Trials (RoB2) and observational studies (ROBINS-I). We summarized the study, intervention, and satisfaction measurement characteristics. We presented the effect estimates of each study descriptively using a forest plot without performing an overall meta-analysis. Meta-analysis could not be performed because of variations in study designs and methods used to measure satisfaction. We presented studies reporting mean values and odds ratios in 2 separate plots. The presentation of studies in forest plots was organized by type of study design. RESULTS: A total of 7685 women participated in the studies included in the review. We found that most studies (ie, 17/20) report higher satisfaction with group care than standard individual care. Some of the noted results are lower satisfaction with group care in both studies in Sweden and 1 of the 2 studies from Canada. Higher satisfaction was present in 14 of 15 studies reporting CenteringPregnancy, Group Antenatal Care (1 study), and Adapted CenteringPregnancy (1 study). Although indicative of higher maternal satisfaction, the results are often based on statistically insignificant effect estimates with wide confidence intervals derived from small sample sizes. CONCLUSION: The evidence confirms higher maternal satisfaction with group care than with standard care. This likely reflects group care methodology, which combines clinical assessment, facilitated health promotion discussion, and community-building opportunities. This evidence will be helpful for the implementation of group care globally.

Promoting informed decision-making about maternal pertussis vaccination in Centering Pregnancy group-antenatal care: A feasibility study.

PROBLEM: Effective interventions are needed to promote informed decision making about vaccination. BACKGROUND: We developed a group-antenatal care (CP; Centering Pregnancy) intervention, i.e., a session about MPV within existing group-care settings, to promote informed decision making about Maternal Pertussis Vaccination in the Netherlands. AIM: This study aimed to assess (1) to what extent the intervention was implemented as intended, (2) to what extent the intervention met the needs and wishes of pregnant individuals and midwives facilitating CP. METHODS: We conducted exploratory interviews with 6 CP facilitators and 10 CP participants to assess the implementation of the intervention, and how the intervention and its different components were perceived. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. In addition, we conducted a pre- and post-intervention survey amongst 35 participants, measuring knowledge about MPV, and MPV attitude and intention. RESULTS: The CP intervention was implemented as intended in 6 out of 7 groups. Participants were positive about the interactive CP-methods used to discuss MPV. Participants and facilitators evaluated the intervention as positive and relevant, although the intervention was time-consuming, and some participants had already made the de decision about MPV. Those who had not yet decided indicated that the session was helpful for their decision. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Discussing MPV in CP care settings is a feasible strategy to support decision making about MPV during pregnancy. The intervention could be improved by discussing the MPV sooner than 16-18 weeks of pregnancy. A larger-scale study is needed to assess effects on MPV uptake and informed decision making.

Long-term cost savings with Centering-based group antenatal care.

INTRODUCTION: Group antenatal care (gANC) is a group-based care-model combining routine antenatal care, with health assessment, education, and community building. GANC has shown positive results on perinatal outcomes. However, midwives in Dutch primary care have reported higher costs when providing gANC. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of replacing individual prenatal care (IC) by gANC on (expected future) health care costs and health outcomes. METHODS: We performed an exploratory cost-benefit analysis comparing costs and consequences of gANC with those of IC, using a hypothetical cohort of 12,894 women in gANC. Primary input data were derived from a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial carried out in the Netherlands, assessing both health and psychosocial effects of gANC comparing them with IC. Other data was retrieved from available literature and an online questionnaire among midwifery practices. The main outcome measure was differential cost of gANC and lifetime direct healthcare costs related to the effects of gANC compared to IC (price level 2019). RESULTS: Results showed that gANC comes at a differential cost of €45 extra per person when compared to IC. However, projected healthcare cost-savings related to increased breastfeeding rates, reduced prevalence of pregnancy induced hypertension and less postpartum smoking, lead to an average net cost-savings of €67 per gANC participant. DISCUSSION: Although gANC shows better health- and psychosocial outcomes when compared to IC, it is more costly to provide. However, findings indicate that the differential costs of gANC are off-set by long-term healthcare cost-savings.

Contributions of CenteringPregnancy to women's health behaviours, health literacy, and health care use in the Netherlands.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of CenteringPregnancy (CP) in the Netherlands on different health outcomes. A stepped wedged cluster randomized trial was used, including 2132 women of approximately 12 weeks of gestation, from thirteen primary care midwifery centres in and around Leiden, Netherlands. Data collection was done through self-administered questionnaires. Multilevel intention-to-treat analysis and propensity score matching for the entire group and separately for nulliparous- and multiparous women were employed. The main outcomes were: health behaviour, health literacy, psychological outcomes, health care use, and satisfaction with care. Women's participation in CP is associated with lower alcohol consumption after birth (OR = 0.59, 95 %CI 0.42-0.84), greater consistency with norms for healthy eating and physical activity (ß = 0.19, 95 %CI 0.02-0.37), and higher knowledge about pregnancy (ß = 0.05, 95 %CI 0.01-0.08). Compared to the control group, nulliparous women who participating in CP reported better compliance to the norm for healthy eating and physical activity (ß = 0.28, 95 %CI0.06-0.51)) and multiparous CP participants consumed less alcohol after giving birth (OR = 0.42, 95 %CI 0.23-0.78). Health care use and satisfaction rates were significantly higher among CP participants. A non-significant trend toward lower smoking rates was documented among CP participants. Overall, the results of this study reveal a positive (postpartum) impact on fostering healthy behaviours among participants.

It takes two to tango: the recruiter's role in accepting or refusing to participate in group antenatal care among pregnant women-an exploration through in-depth interviews.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore how women are recruited for group antenatal care (GANC) in primary care organisations (PCOs), what elements influence the behaviour of the recruiter, and what strategies recruiters use to encourage women to participate. METHOD: Using a qualitative research design, we conducted 10 in-depth interviews with GANC facilitators working in PCOs. Selected constructs of the domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Theoretical Domains Framework helped to develop interview questions and raise awareness of important elements during interviews and thematic analyses. GANC facilitators working in multidisciplinary PCOs located in Brussels and Flanders (Belgium) were invited to participate in an interview. We purposively selected participants because of their role as GANC facilitators and recruiters. We recruited GANC facilitators up until data saturation and no new elements emerged. RESULT: We identified that the recruitment process consists of four phases or actions: identification of needs and potential obstacles for participation; selection of potential participants; recruitment for GANC and reaction to response. Depending on the phase, determinants at the level of the woman, recruiter, organisation or environment have an influence on the recruitment behaviour. CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that it takes two to tango for successful recruitment for GANC. Potential participants' needs and wishes are of importance, but the care providers' behaviour should not be underestimated. Therefore, successful recruitment may be improved when introducing a multidisciplinary recruitment plan consisting of specific strategies, as we suggest.

How to Support the Referral Towards Group Antenatal Care in Belgian Primary Healthcare Organizations: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Group Antenatal Care (GANC) is an alternative for traditional antenatal care. Despite the model is well accepted among participants and is associated with positive effects on pregnancy outcomes, recruitment of participants can be an ongoing challenge, depending on the structure and financing of the wider health system. This is especially the case for primary care organizations offering GANC, which depend on other health care providers to refer potential participants. The main objective of this study is to understand what determinants are at play for health care providers to refer to GANC facilitators in primary care organizations. Accordingly, we make recommendations for strategies in order to increase the influx of women in GANC. Methods: Qualitative findings were obtained from 31 interviews with healthcare providers responsible for the referral of women to the GANC facilitators working in primary care organizations, GANC facilitators and stakeholders indirectly involved in the referral. The domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) helped to develop interview questions and raise awareness of important elements during interviews and thematic analyses. Results: The findings show that before health care providers decide to refer women, they undergo a complex process that is influenced by characteristics of the potential referrer, GANC facilitator, woman, professional relationship between the potential referrer and the GANC facilitator, organization and broader context. Discussion: Based on these findings and current literature, we recommend that the GANC team implements strategies that anticipate relevant determinants: identify and select potential referrers based on their likelihood to refer, select champions, invest in communication, concretise the collaboration, provide practical tools, involve in policymaking.

Group Care in the first 1000 days: implementation and process evaluation of contextually adapted antenatal and postnatal group care targeting diverse vulnerable populations in high-, middle- and low-resource settings.

BACKGROUND: Group care (GC) improves the quality of maternity care, stimulates women's participation in their own care and facilitates growth of women's social support networks. There is an urgent need to identify and disseminate the best mechanisms for implementing GC in ways that are feasible, context appropriate and sustainable. This protocol presents the aims and methods of an innovative implementation research project entitled Group Care in the first 1000 days (GC_1000), which addresses this need. AIMS: The aim of GC_1000 is to co-create and disseminate evidence-based implementation strategies and tools to support successful implementation and scale-up of GC in health systems throughout the world, with particular attention to the needs of 'vulnerable' populations. METHODS: By working through five inter-related work packages, each with specific tasks, objectives and deliverables, the global research team will systematically examine and document the implementation and scale-up processes of antenatal and postnatal GC in seven different countries. The GC_1000 project is grounded theoretically in the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR), while the process evaluation is guided by 'Realistic Evaluation' principles. Data are gathered across all research phases and analysis at each stage is synthesized to develop Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome configurations. DISCUSSION: GC_1000 will generate evidence-based knowledge about the integration of complex interventions into diverse health care systems. The 4-year project also will pave the way for sustained implementation of GC, significantly benefitting populations with adverse pregnancy and birthing experiences as well as poor outcomes.

CenteringPregnancy in the Netherlands: Who engages, who doesn't, and why.

BACKGROUND: CenteringPregnancy (CP), a model of group antenatal care, was implemented in 2012 in the Netherlands to improve perinatal health; CP is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes. However, motivating women to participate in CP can be difficult. As such, we explored the characteristics associated with CP uptake and attendance and then investigated whether participation differs between health care facilities. In addition, we examined the reasons why women may decline participation and the reasons for higher or lower attendance rates. METHODS: Data from a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial were used. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine associations among women's health behavior, sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics, health care facilities, and participation and attendance in CP. RESULTS: A total of 2562 women were included in the study, and the average participation rate was 31.6% per health care facility (range of 10%-53%). Nulliparous women, women <26 years old or >30 years old, and women reporting average or high levels of stress were more likely to participate in CP. Participation was less likely for women who had stopped smoking before prenatal intake, or who scored below average on lifestyle/pregnancy knowledge. For those participating in CP, 87% attended seven or more out of the 10 sessions, and no significant differences were found in women's characteristics when compared for higher or lower attendance rates. After the initial uptake, group attendance rates remained high. CONCLUSION: A more comprehensive understanding of the variation in participation rate between health care facilities is required, in order to develop effective strategies to improve the recruitment of women, especially those with less knowledge and understanding of health issues and smoking habits.

The effect of offering a third-trimester routine ultrasound on pregnancy-specific anxiety and mother-to-infant bonding in low-risk women: A pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Third-trimester routine ultrasounds are increasingly offered to monitor fetal growth. In addition to limited evidence for its clinical effectiveness, little is known about its importance for pregnancy-specific anxiety and mother-to-infant bonding. METHODS: 1275 low-risk women participated in a Dutch nationwide pragmatic cluster-randomized trial and answered questionnaires on pregnancy-specific anxiety (PRAQ-R) and prenatal mother-to-infant bonding (MAAS) before and after a third-trimester routine ultrasound was offered to the intervention group. Linear mixed model regression analyses were performed to examine the effect of offering a third-trimester routine ultrasound on pregnancy-specific anxiety and mother-to-infant bonding. In addition, we examined whether the effect depended on maternal background characteristics and level of satisfaction with the ultrasound procedure. RESULTS: We found no effect of offering a third-trimester routine ultrasound on pregnancy-specific anxiety and mother-to-infant bonding. However, interaction analyses showed that women with high levels of depressive symptoms at baseline and women who were very satisfied with the ultrasound procedure benefited somewhat more from offering a third-trimester routine ultrasound in terms of mother-to-infant bonding compared with women with low or no depressive symptoms, or less satisfied women. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between offering a third-trimester routine ultrasound with pregnancy-specific anxiety and mother-to-infant bonding is limited. A beneficial effect only applies to some subgroups of women. This implies that, in terms of psychological outcomes, there are no counterarguments to implementing a third-trimester routine ultrasound. Strong evidence for offering all pregnant women a third-trimester routine ultrasound for psychological reasons, however, is lacking.

Evaluation of women's worries in different strategies for the prevention of early onset group B streptococcal disease in neonates.

OBJECTIVE: Early onset group B streptococcal (EOGBS) disease is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. EOGBS preventive strategies aim to reduce the risk of neonatal complications. Two new strategies to prevent EOGBS were implemented in two regions in the Netherlands: a risk-based and a combination strategy and were compared to the Dutch strategy in a third region. Little is known how women feel about preventive EOGBS strategies, the consequences for management during labour, side effects such as harm caused by over prescribing of antibiotics or anxiety caused by screening. Women's worries in pregnancy overall and on women's worries related to GBS regarding the different strategies were explored. METHODS: Design - Setting - Participants - Interventions (if appropriate) - Before implementation of the two new strategies, all three regions worked according to the Dutch strategy. Women completed the Cambridge worry scale and a newly developed worry scale aimed to detect GBS related worries at 35 weeks of pregnancy before (T0) and after (T1) implementation of new strategies. Analyses were performed to test whether women's overall worries in pregnancy and their GBS related worries differed between the three strategies. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: In total 1369 women participated, 519 before implementation (T0) and 850 during implementation (T1) of EOGBS preventive strategies. Mean overall worries in pregnancy and GBS related worries were low during the whole study period in all three regions. No differences were found in total mean GBS related worries between the three strategies during implementation (T1). When looking at the combined 10% highest CWS and/or GBS related worries during implementation the adjOR were 1.94 (95% CI 1.21-3.12) for the combination strategy, 2.09 (95% CI 1.42-3.08 for primiparity and 6.37 (95% CI 2.98-13.60) for having a different country of origin. KEY CONCLUSIONS: Overall women had minor GBS related worries in all EOGBS preventive strategies. Implementation of the combination strategy, primiparity and having a different country of origin are associated with the highest levels of overall worries in pregnancy and GBS related worries. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The low level of women's worries combined with limited effects and cost effectiveness of the three strategies suggests that the strategy with the least costs and lowest antibiotic use should be implemented. A more tailored approach seems needed to address the specific needs of primiparous women and of women from different countries of origin when implementing the combination strategy.

Adherence to three different strategies to prevent early onset GBS infection in newborns.

PROBLEM: Despite the introduction of preventive guidelines, no decrease in the incidence of early onset infection was observed. BACKGROUND: Early onset group B streptococcal (EOGBS) infection is an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. AIM: Our study was conducted to determine adherence to three guideline-based group B streptococcus (GBS) preventive strategies. METHODS: A prospective experimental study clustered by obstetric collaboration region was performed between March 2013 and August 2014 among midwives, obstetricians and paediatricians in the Netherlands. At baseline, the three regions operated according to the Dutch preventive strategy (founded on the risk-based strategy) in order to prevent EOGBS infection, whereas in the study period they followed either the risk-based, the combination or the Dutch strategy. Adherence was measured prospectively per pregnant woman, using predefined core elements of each preventive strategy: identification of risk factors, maternal GBS screening, application of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis and observation of the child. Data about adherence to the core elements were collected from medical records, maternal questionnaires and laboratory test results. FINDINGS: In the three regions, a total of 121 care providers and 1562 women participated. We found an overall adherence of 90% to the risk-based strategy, 57% to the combination strategy and 89% to the Dutch strategy. Adherence to a strategy in case women had EOGBS risk factors was below 20% in all strategies. DISCUSSION: The majority of women with EOGBS risk factors did not receive the care prescribed by any of three preventive strategies and were not treated optimally. CONCLUSION: The risk-based and the Dutch strategy are the recommended strategies for implementation.

Are midwives in the Netherlands satisfied with their jobs? A systematic examination of satisfaction levels among hospital and primary-care midwives in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is generally considered to be an important element of work quality and workplace relations. Little is known about levels of job satisfaction among hospital and primary-care midwives in the Netherlands. Proposed changes to the maternity care system in the Netherlands should consider how the working conditions of midwives affect their job satisfaction. AIM: We aimed to measure and compare job satisfaction among hospital and primary-care midwives in the Netherlands. METHODS: Online survey of all practising midwives in the Netherlands using a validated measure of job satisfaction (the Leiden Quality of Work Questionnaire) to analyze the attitudes of hospital and primary-care midwives about their work. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to assess differences between the two groups. RESULTS: Approximately one in six of all practising midwives in the Netherlands responded to our survey (hospital midwives n = 103, primary-care midwives n = 405). All midwives in our survey were satisfied with their work (n = 508). However, significant differences emerged between hospital and primary-care midwives in terms of what was most important to them in relation to their job satisfaction. For hospital midwives, the most significant domains were: working hours per week, workplace agreements, and total years of experience. For primary-care midwives, social support at work, work demands, job autonomy, and the influence of work on their private life were most significant. CONCLUSION: Although midwives were generally satisfied, differences emerged in the key predictors of job satisfaction between hospital and primary-care midwives. These differences could be of importance when planning workforce needs and should be taken into consideration by policymakers in the Netherlands and elsewhere when planning new models of care.

How good is collaboration between maternity service providers in the Netherlands?

AIMS: To examine the experiences of inter-professional collaboration of maternity service providers in the Netherlands and to identify potential enhancing and inhibiting factors for inter-professional collaboration within maternity care in the Netherlands. BACKGROUND: Good collaboration between health care professionals is a key element of safe, effective care, but creating a collaborative culture can be challenging. Good collaboration requires, among other things, negotiating different professional orientations and the organizational constraints of hierarchies and scheduling. Good collaboration is especially important in maternity care. In the Netherlands, suboptimal collaboration has been cited as a significant factor in maternal deaths and in adverse incidents occurring in hospitals during evenings, nights, and weekends. In spite of its importance for effective maternity care, little is known about the nature and quality of collaboration between maternity care professionals. In order to fill this gap, we examined the inter-professional collaboration within multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) providing maternity services in the Netherlands. METHODS: Online survey of MDTs (consisting of hospital and PCMs, doctors, and carers) involved in the provision of maternity services in the Netherlands. We used a validated measure of collaboration (the Leiden Quality of Work Questionnaire) to analyze the attitudes of those involved in the provision of maternity services about multi-disciplinary collaboration in their work. We used descriptive and inferential statistics to assess differences between the groups. RESULTS: 40% of all respondents were not satisfied with collaboration within their MDT. Overall, mean collaboration scores (MCS) were low. We found significant differences in MCS between professional groups. Midwives - community and hospital based - were pessimistic about collaboration in future models of maternity care. DISCUSSION: In the Netherlands, collaboration in maternity care is less than optimal. Poor collaboration is associated with negative consequences for patient safety and quality of care. Strategies to address suboptimal collaboration exist; however, no one-size-fits-all approach is identified in the literature. CONCLUSION: Suboptimal collaboration exists within the midwifery model of care in the Netherlands and the relationship between care providers is under pressure. This could affect patient safety and quality of care, according to the literature. PRÉCIS: This paper presents an in-depth examination of the nature of, and attitudes about, collaboration between members of the MDT involved in the provision of maternity services in the Netherlands.

Women-centered care: Implementation of CenteringPregnancy® in The Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: In response to a relatively high perinatal mortality rate in The Netherlands, the Dutch Health Ministry recommended changes to maternity care, opening a pathway toward more integrated woman-centered services. Because of its potential to positively influence risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes, CenteringPregnancy (CP) group prenatal care was implemented. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study (n = 2318) and survey on women's experiences (n = 222) in eight primary care midwifery practices to investigate outcome differences between CP and traditional individual prenatal care. Data from the period 2011-2013 were analyzed. RESULTS: Primiparous and multiparous CP women attended more prenatal care visits compared with women who received individual care (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.23 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-1.29] and 1.29 [1.21-1.36]). Fewer primiparous CP women used pain relief during labor (0.56 [0.43-0.73]), and they initiated breastfeeding more often (1.74 [1.15-2.62]). Women participating in CP were more likely to feel that their wishes with respect to medication use (69.1% vs 54.4%, P = 0.039), physical activities (72.8% vs 52.5%, P = 0.008), and relaxation exercises (67.9% vs 35.6%, P ≤ 0.001) were listened to by care providers. They also felt more supported to actively participate in their care (89.6% vs 68.5%, P = 0.001) and felt more able to voice opinions about care (92.7% vs 73.9%, P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The CP model is a good approach aligning with Dutch policy calling for women-centered care and responding to the needs of pregnant women. This study supports CP scale-up in The Netherlands and adds to the pool of international knowledge about CP implementation.

Job satisfaction of maternity care providers in the Netherlands: Does working in or with a birth centre influence job satisfaction?

INTRODUCTION: In the Netherlands birth centres have recently become an alternative option as places where women with uncomplicated pregnancies can give birth. This article focusses on the job satisfaction of three groups of maternity care providers (community midwives, clinical care providers and maternity care assistants) working in or with a birth centre compared to those working only in a hospital or at home. METHODS: In 2015, an existing questionnaire was adapted and distributed to maternity care providers and 4073 responses were received. Using factor analyses, two composite measures were constructed, a Composite Job Satisfaction scale and an Assessment-of-Working-in-or-with-a-Birth-Centre scale. Differences between groups were tested with Student's t-test and MANOVA with post hoc test and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The overall score on the Composite Job Satisfaction scale did not differ between community midwives or clinical care providers working in or with a birth centre and those working in a different setting. For maternity care assistants there was a small but significantly higher score for those not working in a birth centre. Maternity care assistants' overall job satisfaction score was higher than that of both other groups. In a linear regression analysis working or not working in or with a birth centre was related to the overall job satisfaction score, but repeated for the three professional groups separately, this relation was only found for maternity care assistants. CONCLUSIONS: Job satisfaction is generally high, but, except for maternity care assistants, not related to the setting (working or not working in or with a birth centre).

Experienced job autonomy among maternity care professionals in The Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: High levels of experienced job autonomy are found to be beneficial for healthcare professionals and for the relationship with their patients. The aim of this study was to assess how maternity care professionals in the Netherlands perceive their job autonomy in the Dutch maternity care system and whether they expect a new system of integrated maternity care to affect their experienced job autonomy. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. The Leiden Quality of Work Life Questionnaire was used to assess experienced job autonomy among maternity care professionals. SETTING: Data were collected in the Netherlands in 2015. PARTICIPANTS: 799 professionals participated of whom 362 were primary care midwives, 240 obstetricians, 93 clinical midwives and 104 obstetric nurses. FINDINGS: The mean score for experienced job autonomy was highest for primary care midwives, followed by obstetricians, clinical midwives and obstetric nurses. Primary care midwives scored highest in expecting to lose their job autonomy in an integrated care system. KEY CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in experienced job autonomy between maternity care professionals. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: When changing the maternity care system it will be a challenge to maintain a high level of experienced job autonomy for professionals. A decrease in job autonomy could lead to a reduction in job related wellbeing and in satisfaction with care among pregnant women.

Barriers and facilitators related to the uptake of four strategies to prevent neonatal early-onset group B haemolytic streptococcus disease: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Actions to prevent early onset disease in neonates are based on different strategies including administering antibiotic prophylaxis during labour in case of 1) maternal GBS colonisation (screening strategy), 2) identified risk factors (risk-based strategy) or 3) a combination of these two conditions (maternal GBS colonisation and identified risk factors: combination strategy and the Dutch guideline). Low adherence to guidelines preventing EOGBS has been reported. Each strategy has drawbacks and clinical outcomes are affected by care providers' and women's adherence. The actual impact of any preventive strategy is the product of efficacy of the strategy and the level of implementation. In order to reduce neonatal death due to EOGBS by developing the optimal guideline, we analysed barriers and facilitators of current used strategies. METHODS: Focus group and personal interviews with care providers and women were performed. Impeding and enhancing factors in adherence to the preventive strategies were discussed and scored using the Measurement Instrument for Determinants of Innovations (MIDI) and analysed by two independent researchers. RESULTS: Overall, care providers identified 3.6 times more factors that would impede (n = 116) rather than facilitate (n = 32) adherence to the preventive strategies. 28% facilitative factors were reported in relation to the combination strategy and 86% impeding factors in relation to the Dutch guideline. The most preferred strategy was the combination strategy by 74% of the care providers and by 86% of the women. DISCUSSION: We obtained a detailed understanding of factors that influence adherence to preventive strategies. This insight can be used to develop implementation activities to improve the uptake of new strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered in the Dutch Trial Register NTR3965 .