Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources-Based Support System for Predicting Delivery Type: Model Development and Evaluation Study.

BACKGROUND: The escalating prevalence of cesarean delivery globally poses significant health impacts on mothers and newborns. Despite this trend, the underlying reasons for increased cesarean delivery rates, which have risen to 36.3% in Portugal as of 2020, remain unclear. This study delves into these issues within the Portuguese health care context, where national efforts are underway to reduce cesarean delivery occurrences. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to introduce a machine learning, algorithm-based support system designed to assist clinical teams in identifying potentially unnecessary cesarean deliveries. Key objectives include developing clinical decision support systems for cesarean deliveries using interoperability standards, identifying predictive factors influencing delivery type, assessing the economic impact of implementing this tool, and comparing system outputs with clinicians' decisions. METHODS: This study used retrospective data collected from 9 public Portuguese hospitals, encompassing maternal and fetal data and delivery methods from 2019 to 2020. We used various machine learning algorithms for model development, with light gradient-boosting machine (LightGBM) selected for deployment due to its efficiency. The model's performance was compared with clinician assessments through questionnaires. Additionally, an economic simulation was conducted to evaluate the financial impact on Portuguese public hospitals. RESULTS: The deployed model, based on LightGBM, achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 88%. In the trial deployment phase at a single hospital, 3.8% (123/3231) of cases triggered alarms for potentially unnecessary cesarean deliveries. Financial simulation results indicated potential benefits for 30% (15/48) of Portuguese public hospitals with the implementation of our tool. However, this study acknowledges biases in the model, such as combining different vaginal delivery types and focusing on potentially unwarranted cesarean deliveries. CONCLUSIONS: This study presents a promising system capable of identifying potentially incorrect cesarean delivery decisions, with potentially positive implications for medical practice and health care economics. However, it also highlights the challenges and considerations necessary for real-world application, including further evaluation of clinical decision-making impacts and understanding the diverse reasons behind delivery type choices. This study underscores the need for careful implementation and further robust analysis to realize the full potential and real-world applicability of such clinical support systems.

Psychometric Properties of the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale in Portuguese Pregnant Women.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy provides a privileged and opportune moment to implement interventions promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and significantly improving perinatal outcomes. The Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale (HLBES) can be used to assess health promoting behaviors, such as diet, physical activity, and mental health. PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the HLBES in Portuguese pregnant women. METHODS: A methodological study was conducted on a convenience sample of 192 pregnant women receiving prenatal care. After cross-cultural adaptation, an exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency assessment were carried out to evaluate the psychometric properties of the scale. Data collected included the Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs Scale to assess the HLBES' criterion validity. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation yielded 2 subscales that explained 45.23% of the total variance. The scale revealed an overall internal consistency of 0.78 and a good criterion validity with the Healthy Lifestyle Beliefs Scale (r = 0.65, P < .01). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the HLBES is an instrument for reporting healthy lifestyle behaviors in Portuguese pregnant women; however, further studies are recommended. This scale can be used to not only describe healthy lifestyle behaviors in pregnant women but also to determine the effects of health promoting interventions.

Factors associated with antepartum pilgrimage at a reference maternity hospital in Ceará / Factores asociados a la peregrinación anteparto en una maternidad de referencia en Ceará / Fatores associados à peregrinação anteparto em maternidadede referência no Ceará

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify factors associated with antepartum pilgrimage in pregnant women in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional study with 300 postpartum women from a state reference maternity hospital, carried out from March 2020 to January 2021. The frequency of pilgrimage was estimated according to socioeconomic characteristics and prenatal care. Analysis with Pearson's chi-square test selected variables for adjusted Poisson regression. Results: The frequency of antepartum pilgrimage to more than one health service was 34.3%. Not knowing the reference maternity hospital (1.16; 95%CI: 1.04-1.30) and not living close to the reference maternity hospital (1.16; 95%CI: 1.03-1.31) were associated with the occurrence of pilgrimage among women. Personal characteristics and prenatal care were not associated. Conclusion: There was an association between antepartum pilgrimage and lack of knowledge of the reference maternity hospital and residence far from that maternity hospital, which requires better team communication and the guarantee of easier access to obstetric care services, through effective implementation of regionalization of maternal care.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar factores asociados a la peregrinación anteparto en mujeres embarazadas en Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Método: Estudio transversal con 300 puérperas de una maternidad de referencia estatal, realizado de marzo de 2020 a enero de 2021. Se estimó la frecuencia de peregrinación según características socioeconómicas y de atención prenatal. Análisis con Prueba de Chi-Cuadrado de Pearson variables seleccionadas para regresión de Poisson ajustada. Resultados: La frecuencia de peregrinación anteparto a más de un servicio de salud fue del 34,3%. Desconocer la maternidad de referencia (1,16; IC95%: 1,04-1,30) y no vivir cerca de la maternidad de referencia (1,16; IC95%: 1,03-1,31) se asociaron con la ocurrencia de peregrinación entre las mujeres. Las características personales y la atención prenatal no se asociaron. Conclusión: Hubo asociación entre la peregrinación anteparto y el desconocimiento de la maternidad de referencia y vivir lejos de esa maternidad, lo que requiere una mejor comunicación del equipo y garantizar un acceso más fácil a los servicios de atención obstétrica a través de la implementación efectiva de la regionalización de la atención materna.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar fatores associados à peregrinação anteparto em gestantes de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Método: Estudo transversal com 300 puérperas de uma maternidade de referência estadual, realizado de março de 2020 a janeiro de 2021. Foi estimada a frequência da peregrinação segundo características socioeconômicas e de assistência pré-natal. Análises com o Teste Qui-Quadrado de Pearson selecionaram variáveis para a regressão de Poisson ajustada. Resultados: A frequência de peregrinação anteparto por mais de um serviço de saúde foi de 34,3%. Não conhecer a maternidade de referência (1,16; IC95% 1,04-1,30) e não residir próximo à maternidade de referência (1,16; IC95%: 1,03-1,31) estiveram associados à ocorrência de peregrinação entre as mulheres. Características pessoais e de assistência pré-natal não se mostraram associadas. Conclusão: Verificou-se associação da peregrinação anteparto com o desconhecimento da maternidade de referência e com a residência distante dessa maternidade, o que requer melhor comunicação da equipe e a garantia de acesso facilitado aos serviços de assistência obstétrica por meio da implementação eficaz da regionalização dos cuidados maternos.