Developing training for midwives to help women do PFMEs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a training intervention for midwives and women to enhance implementation of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFME) in the ante- and post-natal period
IRAS ID
238874
Contact name
Sarah Dean
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 30 days
Research summary
This series of studies will contribute to the development of an intervention to support implementation of pelvic floor muscle exercises (PFMEs) in pregnancy. This forms the third stage, Work Package 3 (WP3), of the NIHR-funded ‘Antenatal Preventative Pelvic Floor Exercises and Localisation’ (APPEAL) programme. APPEAL aims to prevent pregnancy and childbirth related urinary incontinence (UI) by developing and testing a motivational training package for midwives to help women perform PFME correctly and regularly. Pregnancy and childbirth are major risk factors for UI. Incontinence places a large burden on women’s health; impacting on physical, mental and social quality of life with associated pressure on NHS resources and wider societal costs. A recent Cochrane review showed the efficacy of PFME for prevention and treatment of UI in pregnant and postnatal women (Woodley et al., 2017).
WP3 will include three linked studies:
3.1: focus groups with midwives and with women will be held across two study sites in London and Exeter. The study will explore preferences and ideas for the best ways to delivery intervention training, and key components that will help midwives teach and support women to carry out effective PFMEs during and after pregnancy.
3.2: a stakeholder event will be held to seek feedback on the proposed intervention and to explore resource requirements for implementation within maternity services
3.3: a practice training event with midwives will be held to get feedback on the intervention. This will refined prior to testing in a subsequent clinical trial as part of the APPEAL study programme grant (not included in this application).REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0071
Date of REC Opinion
10 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion