QUIDS qualitative study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Quantitative Fibronectin to help Decision-making in women with Symptoms of Preterm Labour: determining decisional requirements
IRAS ID
191462
Contact name
Helen K White
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ISRCTN41598423, QUIDS prospective trial registered
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study is a qualitative exploration of the informational needs of women, their partners and caregivers when making decisions about care following signs of preterm labour.
Accurately diagnosing preterm labour is important. Babies born prematurely benefit from their mothers receiving the right care before they are born. However, that care can carry risks for the mother and baby if preterm birth does not occur. Diagnosing preterm labour is difficult and some tests are not very accurate. Quantitative fetal fibronectin (qfFN) is a near-bedside test that can predict preterm birth by assessing the concentration of fetal fibronectin in vaginal fluid. Using the findings of this study and data from large trials, researchers will develop and test a mathematical model that predicts preterm birth using qfFN and other risk factors. The model will be used to develop a mobile application decision support tool that is freely available for caregivers to use with women and their partners to help them make care decisions during preterm birth.
The first step of developing that tool is to find out from women, partners and caregivers what information they need to make decisions about care during preterm labour and how they would like that information to be presented to them. Women who are at risk of preterm birth, women who have experienced preterm birth, their partners and clinicians from three large maternity units in England and Scotland will be invited to be interviewed to find out their views. The transcripts of the interviews will be systematically analysed to identify themes. The themes will be used to develop the decision support tool and provide insight into the experience of preterm labour decision making.REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0945
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion