The IMPART study has been included in an NIHR Alert, highlighting how the study’s recommendations could improve the implementation of the care pathway for early birth risk assessment.
In the UK, 1 in 6 babies (8%) are born early (or prematurely) before 37 weeks; the NHS aims to reduce this to 6% by 2025. Babies born early are at higher risk of dying as newborns and of long-term health issues.
Some hospitals have already established a preterm birth pathway to predict, prevent and prepare for early births.
The research team analysed 29 research papers, interviewed people who have developed guidance for pathways and conducted a national survey of practice. They also carried out in-depth analysis at three hospitals with a preterm birth pathway, observational research, interviews with women and staff and reviewed local guidelines.
This study team identified improvements and made suggestions on how best to implement the care pathway. These included:
Naomi Carlisle, midwifery lecturer, King’s College London says:
Our IMPART study identified key areas for hospitals to focus on, to successfully implement the prediction and prevention aspects of the preterm pathway. As more and more hospitals develop a preterm birth pathway, we hope that our findings will help all women at risk of preterm birth across England receive the same standards of care. Clinicians caring for this population of women need to guard against ordinary aspects of a woman’s care being lost, simply because she is at high risk of preterm birth.
