A call for action that cannot go to voicemail: Research activism to urgently improve Indigenous perinatal health and wellbeing.

In this call to action, a coalition of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, United States and Canada argue for the urgent need for adequately funded Indigenous-led solutions to perinatal health inequities for Indigenous families in well-resourced settler-colonial countries. Authors describe examples of successful community-driven programs making a difference and call on all peoples to support and resource Indigenous-led perinatal health services by providing practical actions for individuals and different groups.

He Korowai Manaaki (Pregnancy Wraparound Care): Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Maternal and infant health inequities between Maori (the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand) and New Zealand European women are well documented and cannot be explained solely by socioeconomic status. A research center-iwi (tribal group) partnership aims to address these disparities and improve maternal and infant health outcomes by implementing an augmented maternity care pathway (He Korowai Manaaki) to improve access to services and evidence-informed care. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to test whether an augmented maternity care pathway improves Maori infant health outcomes. METHODS: This is a Kaupapa Maori (by, with, and for Maori) cluster randomized clinical trial involving 8 primary care practices allocated to either an intervention arm or control arm. The intervention arm comprises an augmented maternity care pathway (He Korowai Manaaki) offering clinical care through additional paid health care appointments and improved access to social support (eg, housing, transport). The control arm is usual care. The primary outcome is increased timely vaccination for Maori infants, defined as all age-appropriate vaccinations completed by 6 months of age. RESULTS: Recruitment commenced in November 2018 and was completed in June 2020, with 251 enrolled women recruited in intervention primary care practices before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Publication of results is anticipated in late 2023. CONCLUSIONS: The results will inform primary health care policy including whether the provision of augmented maternal care pathways reduces disparities in the structural determinants of health. If effective, He Korowai Manaaki will strengthen the health and well-being of pregnant Maori women and their babies and improve their health outcomes, laying a strong foundation for lifelong health and well-being. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12619001155189; https://tinyurl.com/yypbef8q. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/18154.

Prospective evaluation of a continuous monitoring and quality-improvement system for reducing adverse neonatal outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate a prospective monitoring and quality improvement system for studying trends in the rates of an adverse neonatal outcome, the low Apgar scores (Apgar score <7). STUDY DESIGN: A cumulative sum (CUSUM) chart-based system was used to monitor the rate of low Apgar scores over 2 years. Root cause analysis (RCA) was used to investigate for causes of periods of increased low Apgar score rates. RESULTS: A period of deteriorated outcome (increased rates of low Apgar) occurred in August 2006. RCA identified deficiencies in cardiotocograph education, which were addressed by targeted training and mentoring. Prompt resolution followed, with the rates returning to baseline and staying within acceptable limits through to the end of evaluation in December 2007. CONCLUSION: Prospective and continuous monitoring of clinical outcomes using the CUSUM chart method is feasible and may be beneficial. Early detection of an adverse trend allows for timely corrective action, and may lead to overall improvements in performance.

Continuous monitoring tools for pediatric surgical outcomes: an example using biliary atresia.

PURPOSE: Continuous monitoring tools can be used to monitor surgical outcomes over time. We illustrate the use of CUmulative SUM (CUSUM) charts in monitoring outcomes of Kasai portoenterostomy for treatment of biliary atresia at a supraregional unit. METHODS: Data on 57 consecutive infants who underwent a Kasai portoenterostomy performed by a single surgeon between June 1994 and June 2006 were collected. A procedure was defined as successful if clearance of jaundice (plasma bilirubin level <20 micromol/l) was achieved within 6 months of surgery. We applied cumulative observed-minus-expected, sequential probability ratio test (SPRT), and zero-resetting SPRT CUSUM charts and compared the results with those of standard aggregate data analyses. An expected failure rate of 43.0%, based on the national average failure rate, was used. RESULTS: The failure rate observed after 57 operations was 29.8%. The zero-resetting SPRT chart indicated a lower-than-expected failure rate earlier than did the aggregate data analyses and any of the other continuous monitoring techniques. CONCLUSIONS: The CUSUM chart method provides ongoing feedback that can be used for continuous monitoring of the outcome of a procedure to ensure that standards of care are maintained. Its use as a routine monitoring tool in pediatric surgery deserves wider recognition.