Frida Viirman

Research problem and specific questionsWith the long-term goal of improving patient safety and childbirth experience, this project aims to evaluate the effect of the TeamBirth (TB) intervention on patient safety and childbirth experience in Sweden. Despite various efforts to improve safety in intrapartum care, women and babies are still being harmed during labour and birth. Additionally, negative childbirth experience adds to this burden by causing mental health problems, affecting not only the individual woman but the entire family. Although the majority of adverse events within intrapartum care stem from communication and teamwork failures, there are few interventions targeting everyday communication and teamwork. TB was developed in the U.S., aiming to decrease harmful variation in childbirth care and to improve communication and teamwork among care providers and birthing women.Specific questions addressed in this project are: Does TB affect patient safety climate and interprofessional collaboration among care providers? Does the use of TB lead to improved childbirth experience?Data and methodTB will be implemented at seven labour wards across Sweden.  Patient safety climate and interprofessional teamwork will be investigated using a longitudinal cross-sectional design with validated scales to the staff at four time-points. The effect of TB on different aspects of childbirth experience will be studied cross-sectionally, using a web-based survey, distributed to women one month after giving birth. To explore partners’ experience of TB, an individual qualitative in-depth interview study will be performed.Societal relevance and utilizationAdverse infant and maternal events have devastating consequences not only for the individual but also for society. This project has the potential to, by addressing patient safety and person-centered care, advance the field of intrapartum safety and contribute to new and much needed knowledge, leading to improvements in quality of care for women and their infants, which could improve physical and mental health after childbirth for women and their families.Plan for project realizationThe project will be managed by the applicant supported by senior researchers. Costs in the project include salaries for the applicant, for a PhD student to be recruited, and for a biostatistician.