Record Status This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database. Citation Spiby H, Green JM, Darwin Z, Willmot H, Knox D, McLeish J, Smith M. Multisite implementation of trained volunteer doula support for disadvantaged childbearing women: a mixed-methods evaluation. Health Services and Delivery Research 2015; 3(8) Authors' objectives The project addressed four broad questions: implications for the NHS; health and psychosocial impacts for women; impacts on doulas; and the processes of implementing and sustaining a volunteer doula service for disadvantaged childbearing women. Authors' conclusions This is the largest independent evaluation of volunteer doula support in the UK. Limitations include lower than optimal questionnaire response rates and the relatively small sample size available for outcome measurement. Our findings of positive psychosocial impacts reflect those reported among women in other settings, where women may not have access to midwifery support. Significant improvements in maintaining breastfeeding were particularly striking. Volunteer doulas were highly regarded by women and doula support was accepted by NHS midwives. Doulas enjoyed the role and reported positive impacts for various areas of their lives. Funding was a continuing challenge for doula services. Indexing Status Subject indexing assigned by CRD MeSH Delivery, Obstetric; Doulass; Female; Labor, Obstetric; Midwifery; Natural Childbirth; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care Language Published English Country of organisation England English summary An English language summary is available. Address for correspondence HS&DR Programme, National Institute for Health Research, Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre, University of Southampton, Alpha House, Enterprise Road, Southampton, SO16 7NS, UK Tel: +44 23 8059 4304
Email: hsdrinfo@southampton.ac.uk AccessionNumber 32015000454 Date abstract record published 07/04/2015 |