Care Satisfaction and Depression Following Severe Perineal Tearing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Care Satisfaction, Symptom Severity and Depression Following Perineal Tearing: A Mixed Methods Approach
IRAS ID
283382
Contact name
Louise Warwick-Booth
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, days
Research summary
Why is the research needed?
•To produce up to date knowledge in an under researched area.
•The incidence rate of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI) in the UK has tripled since the year 2000 (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2015a). OASI cannot usually be prevented, therefore insights into experiences of care may help to improve patient experiences.
•Previous research was predominantly qualitative. This study will provide mixed methods insights.
•To investigate if there is a relationship between the themes identified in previous literature, namely, care satisfaction and depression.
What does it answer?
1. Investigate a new question, of whether there is a predictive relationship between care satisfaction and levels of depression, following OASI.
2. Does this vary between the different severities of perineal tearing and non-tearing groups?
3.If so, what extent does care satisfaction moderate the influence of symptom severity (tear-type/third- and fourth- degree) on scores of depression? This research question was derived from the information provided by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), that only third- and fourth- degree tears appear to be related to ongoing physical and mental health issues and first- and second- degree tears do not tend to have any long term problems (RCOG, 2020; RCOG, 2014).
4.How do women make meaning out of their experience of care and support received following an OASI and how do they interpret their experiences?The potential benefits of the research are that it will provide up to date feedback of women’s interpretations of care aswell as assessing the relationship between care satisfaction and depression, quantitatively. The findings may prompt further research or be used to guide professional practice.
Participants will be recruited online, from Facebook support groups, The Birth Trauma Association and Birth Tear Support (Severe Birth Tears). Participants will also be recruited from medical records at the researchers local hospital maternity units (Jessops, Rotherham and Bassetlaw hospital).
Participants will respond to the eligibility questions and then an online questionnaire, with items relating to care satisfaction during childbirth and aftercare and items relating to depression. Participants will be asked if they would like to register their interest for a follow-up interview, with questions relating to the thirteen dimensions of care from the care satisfaction scale.REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/SW/0151
Date of REC Opinion
10 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion