Maternity Postnatal Information for New Parents Animation

Quality Improvement Poster Download

Background & Problem

Gloucestershire maternity services deliver and discharge approximately 6,500 babies a year. On discharge from hospital after having a baby (or following a homebirth) there is a significant amount of information including paramount health and safety advice that the midwife needs to go through with new parents. It is apparent that there is inconsistency in the information that is given and the time spent giving it, mainly due to time and bed capacity pressures. Delivering discharge information is an important but repetitive and time-consuming task for Midwives which often delays discharge, reduces patient satisfaction and impacts on bed capacity.

Aim

To reduce the midwifery time spent on the discharge talk by 50% by producing a digital resource complied by experts to deliver the core aspects of discharge information, whilst increasing the quality and consistency of the information provided and expediting the discharge process.

Method

• Ascertain from midwives what their practice is with discharge talks; How long they spend and what they include in their talk.
• Gather information from service users about what is important for them to know when they are being discharged after having a baby, how long they would watch an information resource for and what format they would prefer to receive this information in.
• Develop a content list for the postnatal film and consult with the experts in these fields to decipher what is essential information to be included in the resource.

Several PDSA cycles have been conducted during this project:

• Write a draft script for the resource and share with health professionals and service users and analyse the feedback. Repeat this cycle until the final script is decided.
• Identify production company (tender process with 5 companies) and hand script over to selected company for development of film.
• Review first draft of film with health professionals and service users and give feedback to production company so they can make necessary amendments.
• When film is finalised launch film and evaluate after a period of time if it has met its aim to reduce midwifery time spent on the discharge talk by 50%.

Results

The resource is in its final stages of production with the animation company, therefore has not yet been tested or evaluated to see if it meets the ultimate aim. However, the drafts have received excellent feedback from both midwives and service users and midwives are confident this will reduce time spent on the discharge process.

Implications

• Producing a discharge information resource that has been informed by experts has increased Midwives knowledge on what evidenced based information should be delivered in the discharge discussion.
• There has been concerns that a digital resource takes away from personalised face to face information, however midwives are encouraged to ask women after watching the film if they have any questions and to also give reinforced information for any risk factors there are i.e. if the women or partner is a smoker they would reiterate the importance of not smoking around the baby and risks of SIDS.
• Developing a digital resource to deliver the information means it can be available online and revisited at any time.

Next Steps:

• Launch postnatal discharge film
• Evaluate whether the project aim to reduce midwifery time on the discharge information talk has been reduced by 50%
• Evaluate whether the resource has improved service user’s knowledge and experience/satisfaction with the discharge process.