Improving midwives' management of occiput-posterior fetal positions: a best practice implementation project.

Introduction: The occiput-posterior (OP) fetal position is the most frequent form of labor dystocia. This position has been associated with delaying the second stage of labor and adverse outcomes.

Objectives: This project aimed to improve the quality of intrapartum care provided by midwives for OP fetal positions during the second stage of labor.

Methods: This best practice implementation project was conducted at the Río Hortega University Hospital in Valladolid, Spain. The project followed the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework, which is based on an audit, feedback, and re-audit process. Current practices were compared against best practices in a baseline audit using 13 audit criteria. Barriers to compliance with best practices were identified and improvement strategies were implemented. An initial follow-up audit was carried out after 4 months to avoid secondary bias. After another 4 months, a second follow-up audit was conducted. Data were collected and compared using the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System (JBI PACES).

Results: The results revealed an improvement in all structure criteria (1-3), five of the process criteria (4-6, 8, 10), and all results criteria (11-13). One process criterion (8) reached maximum compliance in all audits. A key finding was the inadequate recording of upright positions (criterion 7) and the interpretation of cardiotocography (criterion 9).

Conclusions: Evidence-based interventions for managing OP labor improved the quality of care and underlined the importance of ongoing training for midwives. Additional studies are required on positions and fetal monitoring during labor.

Spanish abstract: http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A279.