Innovative programme provides maternity research information in the community
- 01 November 2024
- 2 min read
The Maternity Research Community Programme at North Bristol NHS Trust provides the Women & Children's Research Team with the opportunity to deliver short sessions in local antenatal classes.
These sessions, delivered in collaboration with the community midwifery staff, give women information about why research is important and the studies that are currently open at the site.
The programme, which launched in 2023, was developed in response to feedback from participants of the ASSIST II study, which was testing the safety and efficacy of a device for assisted vaginal births. The participants said that they would like a more women-centred approach to the research recruitment process – most importantly that they would like to receive information in their community when they have the time and space to think about it.
Historically, community midwifery has been less research active as a setting than the acute setting. It is really important to engage, encourage and support community midwives to be able to offer research to their patients. Women build really strong relationships with their midwives during their pregnancy and discussing research at this earlier stage of their journey gives them the opportunity to reflect on whether they would like to participate in a less time-pressured environment.
Women attending the sessions have provided positive feedback about the experience, sharing that they have felt empowered to take part in research and that the sessions have provided an awareness that their participation can have an impact on the future care for women and babies.
Watch this video about the Maternity Research Community Programme to hear the Women & Children's Research Team explain more about the programme, and Rebekah, a participant in a recent study, explain how she found the process.
The NIHR Research Delivery Network is committed to enabling more people to access health and social care research where they live. Find out more about the support we offer for wider care settings.
The Maternity Research Community Programme was funded by development funding from the NIHR. Mary Alvarez, Senior Research Midwife, was also given time by the NIHR Senior Leadership Programme to focus on developing and delivering the Maternity Research Community Programme.
