Whiteboard Use in Labor and Delivery: A Tool to Improve Patient Knowledge of the Name of the Delivery Provider and Satisfaction with Care.

Introduction The impact of whiteboard use in labor rooms has not previously been studied. This quality improvement study aimed to evaluate patient knowledge of their delivering physician's name and the change in patient satisfaction after the implementation of a whiteboard in labor rooms. Methods A multidisciplinary team designed a dry-erase whiteboard prompting care providers to record their names, roles and patient care information. A questionnaire was administered to patients before and after the whiteboard implementation. Patients who had a planned cesarean or vaginal birth within 1 h of admission were excluded. Categorical variables were compared using Chi square and Fisher's exact tests. A multivariable logistic regression was performed to control for confounders. Results 191 patients completed the questionnaires. Although patients were not randomized, the pre-and post-intervention groups were similar. Post-intervention, we found a significant increase in recalling the delivery resident's name [21/101 (20.8%) vs. 33/90 (36.7%), p = 0.016] and a non-significant increase in recalling the name of the attending and nurse [19/101 (18.8%) vs. 23/90 (25.6%), p = 0.296; 46/101 (45.5%) vs. 53/90 (58.9%), p = 0.082]. Post-intervention, patient satisfaction with care was significantly higher [83/101 (82.2%) vs. 83/89 (93.3%), p = 0.028]. Knowledge of the delivery resident's name was associated with higher patient satisfaction [115/137 (84%) vs. 51/53 (96%), p = 0.03] and attendance of the postpartum care visit [50.4% (69/137) vs. 64.8% (35/54), p = 0.049]. Discussion The use of a well-designed whiteboard increases laboring patients' knowledge of their delivery physician's name and may improve patient satisfaction with care on Labor and Delivery.

Comparison of Subcuticular Suture Type for Skin Closure After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of wound complications among women who underwent cesarean delivery through a Pfannenstiel skin incision followed by subcuticular closure with either poliglecaprone 25 suture or polyglactin 910 suture. METHODS: Patients undergoing nonemergent cesarean delivery at or beyond 37 weeks of gestation were randomized to undergo subcuticular skin closure with either poliglecaprone 25 or polyglactin 910. The primary outcome was a wound composite outcome of one or more of the following: surgical site infection, wound separation, hematoma, or seroma within the first 30 days postpartum. To detect a reduction in the primary outcome rate from 12% to 4%, with a power of 0.90 and a two-tailed α of 0.05, 237 women per study group were required. Analysis was performed according to the intent-to-treat principle. RESULTS: From May 28, 2015, to August 5, 2016, 275 women were randomized to poliglecaprone 25 and 275 to polyglactin 910, of whom 520 (95%) were included in the final analysis: 263 in the poliglecaprone 25 group [of whom 231 (88%) actually underwent poliglecaprone 25 closure) and 257 in the polyglactin 910 group [of whom 209 (81%) actually underwent polyglactin 910 closure]. The groups were similar in demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, and perioperative characteristics. Poliglecaprone 25 was associated with a significantly decreased rate of overall wound complications when compared with polyglactin 910, 8.8% compared with 14.4% (relative risk 0.61, 95% CI 0.37-0.99; P=.04). CONCLUSION: Closure of the skin after cesarean delivery with poliglecaprone 25 suture decreases the rate of wound complications compared with polyglactin 910 suture. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02459093.