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Biomedical subjects

Judith Lumley

Publications and source records attributed to Judith Lumley.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

ABFAB. Attachment to the breast and family attitudes to breastfeeding. The effect of breastfeeding education in the middle of pregnancy on the initiation and duration of breastfeeding: a randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN21556494].

BACKGROUND: It has proven difficult to reach World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations that infants be exclusively breastfed from birth to six months of age 12, yet there is limited knowledge about interventions that are effective in increasing breastfeeding initiation and duration. Particularly lacking is evidence about how to maintain breastfeeding rates in countries which already have a high initiation of breastfeeding. This study aims to determine whether mid-pregnancy breastfeeding education, with a focus on either attitudes to breastfeeding or on technical aspects of breastfeeding, has an effect on rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration. Secondary aims of the study are to: explore what factors might affect the duration of breastfeeding and evaluate the interventions from the participant and childbirth facilitator perspectives. METHODS/DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) design will be used. Women having their first baby, and planning to give birth as public patients at the Royal Women's Hospital (RWH), Melbourne, will be approached at 18-20 weeks of pregnancy and invited to participate in the study. Participants will be randomly allocated to a control group or one of two group interventions: a previously designed and trialled tool to teach practical aspects of breastfeeding or an exploration of family attitudes to breastfeeding. The latter was developed and piloted by the investigators in conjunction with the group facilitators, prior to trial commencement. The interventions are planned to take place at 20-25 weeks. Data will be collected by questionnaire at recruitment, at interview in hospital after the birth and by telephone interview six months later. Medical/obstetric outcomes will be obtained from the medical record. The sample size (972) was calculated to identify an increase in breastfeeding initiation from 75 to 85% and an increase from 40 to 50% in breastfeeding at six months.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Defining the problem: the epidemiology of preterm birth.

Preterm birth is the major clinical problem associated with perinatal mortality, serious neonatal morbidity and moderate to severe childhood disability in prosperous countries. Its prevalence is affected by the way in which gestational age is assessed, by national differences in the registration of births, associated practices, such as burial costs, or maternity benefits, which encourage or discourage registration, and by the perceived viability of extremely preterm infants. Despite these uncertainties, there is reliable evidence that preterm births are increasing, especially births before 28 weeks gestation. Contributing factors include births following assisted reproductive therapy and ovulation induction, especially multiple births, and the increasing proportion of births among women >34 years. On the other hand, improvements in neonatal care have substantially increased the survival of preterm infants during the last 15 years. There is wider acceptance of the importance of infection as a factor in preterm birth, and increasing recognition that processes leading to preterm birth may be initiated in very early pregnancy (the initiation of pre-eclampsia, major birth defects, premature placental separation), or even prior to pregnancy (prior pregnancy losses). It is unclear whether the familiar clinical presentations of preterm labour and birth reflect different pathophysiological processes. The pathways which link those processes to the consistent pattern of social differences in the probability of preterm birth have prompted new research approaches but in 2002 'the stubborn challenge of preterm birth' remains just that.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Method of delivery for the preterm infant.

The principal issue concerning the mode of delivery is that while elective caesarean births may reduce the chances of fetal or neonatal death, this method of delivery might also increase maternal morbidity. Six trials with a total of 122 women investigated the effects of a policy of elective caesarean delivery (ECD) versus expectant management for small babies. A meta-analysis of these six trials also included additional unpublished data from several of the authors. Babies in the 'elective' group were less likely to develop respiratory distress syndrome and were more likely to have a low pH after birth. They were also less likely to have neonatal seizures and there were fewer perinatal deaths, although the studies were too small to detect even very large differences. However, there was significantly more serious maternal morbidity. There is insufficient evidence to evaluate a policy of ECD. All trials described major problems in recruitment and no subsequent trials have been identified. Changes in population-based data suggest that ECD of very preterm infants has increased markedly in the last 20 years. Given these changes, it seems unlikely that recruitment for future trials will be any easier than it was in the recent past.

Cesarean Section↗
PubMed2002

Are recommendations about routine antenatal care in Australia consistent and evidence-based?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the variability and evidence base of recommendations in Australian protocols and national policies about six aspects of routine antenatal care. DESIGN: Comparison of recommendations from local protocols, national guidelines and research about number of visits, screening for gestational diabetes (GDM), syphilis, hepatitis C (HCV), and HIV, and advice on smoking cessation. SETTING: Australian public hospitals with more than 200 births/year, some smaller hospitals in each State and Territory, and all Divisions of General Practice were contacted in 1999 and 2000. We reviewed 107 protocols, which included 80% of those requested from hospitals and 92% of those requested from Divisions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency and consistency of recommendations. RESULTS: Recommendations about syphilis testing were notable in demonstrating consistency between local protocols, national policies and research evidence. Most protocols recommended screening for GDM, despite lack of good evidence of its effectiveness in improving outcomes. Specific approaches to screening for GDM varied widely. Coverage and specific recommendations about testing for HIV and HCV were also highly variable. Smoking-cessation information and advice was rarely included, despite good evidence of the effectiveness of interventions in improving outcomes. No national policies about the number of routine visits and smoking cessation could be identified. There were inconsistent national policies for both HIV and GDM screening. CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal care recommended in protocols used in Australia varies, and is not always consistent with national policies or research evidence. Producing and disseminating systematic reviews of research evidence and national guidelines might reduce this variability and improve the quality of Australian antenatal care.

Australia↗
PubMed2002

Immigrant women's views about care during labor and birth: an Australian study of Vietnamese, Turkish, and Filipino women.

BACKGROUND: Few studies of immigrant women's views of maternity care in their new homelands have been conducted. In Victoria, Australia, approximately 1 woman in 7 giving birth was born overseas in a non-English speaking country. This paper examines the views of three groups of immigrant women about the care they received in hospital for the birth of their babies and compares the findings with a population-based statewide survey. METHODS: Mothers in a New Country was a study of 318 Vietnamese, Turkish, and Filipino women interviewed about their maternity care experiences by bicultural interviewers 6 months after giving birth in Melbourne, Australia. The interview schedule was adapted from the 1994 Victorian Survey of Recent Mothers, a population-based postal survey of 1336 women. RESULTS: Of the 3 groups, 27 percent of Vietnamese, 48 percent of Turkish, and 39 percent of Filipino women reported their care during labor and birth as "very good," figures significantly lower than for the statewide survey, in which 61 percent of women experiencing similar models of care described their care as "very good." This significant differential in views about care was also present for many individual aspects of care. In the current study of mothers in a new country, comments about aspects of care with which women were particularly happy and unhappy highlighted their appreciation of care that was safe, kind, supportive, and respectful, and conversely, illustrated how distressed women were when care failed to meet these basic standards. CONCLUSIONS: What immigrant women wanted from their maternity care proved to be extremely similar to what Australian-born women--and women the world over--want. Unfortunately, immigrant women were much less likely to experience care that gave them what they wanted.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Communication and decision-making in labour: do birth plans make a difference?

OBJECTIVES: To assess usage of birth plans, and examine differences in social and obstetric characteristics, and intrapartum experiences of women who did and did not use a birth plan. DESIGN: Population-based survey distributed by hospitals and home birth practitioners, 6-7 months post-natally. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Women who gave birth in Victoria, Australia over a 2-week period in September, 1993, excluding those who had a stillbirth or neonatal death. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Use of a written birth plan; perceived helpfulness, advantages and disadvantages of birth plans; relationship between use of birth plans and overall rating of intrapartum care, and involvement in decision-making. RESULTS: Twenty per cent of women (270/1336) had prepared a written birth plan and discussed it with caregivers. Women who made use of a birth plan were more likely to be satisfied with pain relief (OR = 1.74[1.3-2.3]), but did not differ from women not completing a birth plan in terms of their overall rating of intrapartum care, or involvement in making decisions about their care. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of association between use of a written birth plan and variables assessing women's views of intrapartum care suggest there are insufficient grounds for continuing to advocate a policy of encouraging pregnant women to complete written birth plans, unless it is within the context of a well-designed randomized trial able to provide further evidence regarding their effectiveness.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A systematic approach for midwifery students: how to consider evidence-based research findings.

The midwifery profession is increasingly applying the results of evidence-based research findings. Several researchers were asked if they would answer questions regarding the essential research skills necessary for midwives, the relevance of applying valid evidence to practice, and concerns regarding evidence-based practice overall. The objectives were to share expert researchers' responses that could be used by educators to help introductory midwifery students understand the importance of developing skills in assessing "the best evidence" and to stimulate interactive discussion in the classroom. Consideration of the expert opinions stimulated student thinking on the relation of evidence-based findings to practice in an exciting approach characterized by inquiry and debate, which got favorable responses and evaluations from the students.

Clinical Competence↗