PEARLS: PErineal Assessment and Repair Longitudinal Study
The team was delighted to welcome the research facilitators to their first briefing day in London on the 9th July 2007. This was an excellent opportunity for the facilitators to get together and find out more about the project, and about their forthcoming role. There was lively discussion about the training programme, the equipment and the leadership component of the programme.
On 10th and 11th September the first group of research facilitators commenced the training programme. This was a very exciting and lively programme, and the facilitators entered the programme with great enthusiasm and energy. They have now returned to their local unit, to start setting up the tailored programme for their colleagues. Once ethical clearance has been received from all sites, the cascading of training can begin.
The late intervention group - Group B - met in early October to discuss progress so far, and to share ideas for their phase of the project.
PROTOCOL
(Version 2: 2006)
The PErineal Assessment and Repair Longitudinal Study (PEARLS) is a national quality improvement initiative to improve the assessment and immediate, short and long term management of perineal trauma.
Perineal trauma during childbirth affects a significant number of women in the UK per year. Although a method of suturing which was designed to reduce pain and perineal morbidity was first discussed more than 70 years ago, it was only in 2002 that a randomised controlled trial demonstrated its superiority over more traditional methods of suturing. While the method is comparatively simple to learn, practice within the UK is still highly variable, and there is clearly a need for a training package to enable the new standard to become universally adopted.
This project will engage clinicians and users of the maternity service to assess outcomes of current perineal management, and establish if implementation of a standardised evidence-based clinical training package and information for women on perineal health enhances women's experiences of their birth, reduces levels of maternal postnatal morbidity, and improves clinical effectiveness and use of NHS resources. The effectiveness of the training package will be assessed in part from the point of view of women sustaining perineal trauma, and will look at pain and different quality of life outcomes.
The study is funded by the Health Foundation, and will be undertaken by a multi-disciplinary team with representation from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Thames Valley University (TVU) , Staffordshire University, Keele University, University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS) and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).
Thank you to those of you who have already responded to the PEARLS questionnaire. If you have not yet responded, please send in your questionnaire as soon as possible.
