Assessing Doula Preparedness for Supporting Clients in a Hospital-Based Volunteer Doula Program.

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND: The purpose of this evaluation was to assess doulas' sense of preparedness after completing birth doula training. The extent to which doulas feel prepared to serve clients after training is unknown. METHODS: This program evaluation took place within a hospital-based volunteer doula program in the southeastern United States. The analysis focused on comparing the self-reported preparedness of volunteer doulas trained through the Partners in Birth Training program, a doula training created by the doula program, with preparedness of volunteer doulas trained by nationally recognized training programs. A survey assessed doulas' preparedness to provide physical, emotional, and informational support. RESULTS: Of the 100 doulas active in the program at the time of survey administration, 48 had completed the Partners in Birth Training program, 26 (54%) of whom completed the survey. Of the 32 doulas who entered the doula program following training with national organizations, 19 (59%) completed the survey. The remaining 20 doulas in the program completed a third training option and were excluded from this evaluation. In comparing doulas' overall sense of preparedness between the 2 groups, results were similar, with the median response for both groups being mostly prepared (4 on a Likert scale from 1 to 5). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that localized doula training offered by hospital-based doula programs may be as effective at preparing doulas to serve in such programs as Other training organizations. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Systematic evaluations can help researchers and doulas identify topics and pedagogical approaches to training that increase preparedness.

Improving Knowledge and Competency in Gender-Affirming Patient Care Among New Nurses in Sexual and Reproductive Health Care.

OBJECTIVE: To improve knowledge and competency in providing gender-affirming patient care among newly licensed registered nurses (RNs) working in sexual and reproductive health (SRH). DESIGN: Pilot, pretest/posttest, descriptive design. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participating RNs were employed at a large academic health center in the southeastern United States. All RNs were providing SRH nursing and participating in the health center's new nurse residency program. METHODS AND INTERVENTION: Participants completed an online synchronous training that introduced topics such as sex versus gender, gender dysphoria, and health disparities. This education was followed by in-person training, where an unfolding case study applied concepts to theoretical patient scenarios specific to reproductive health. Participants completed a 20-item survey with a single assessment retrospective pre-post design to measure change in knowledge and competency. RESULTS: Twelve RNs participated in this pilot study. Fewer than half had previously received instruction on providing care to trans∗ persons. Seven self-perceived knowledge and competency areas were evaluated with paired retrospective pre-post design questions. All areas measured showed increases from pretraining to posttraining. Participants also had the opportunity to respond to open-ended questions. Common themes identified in these responses include participants planning to maintain a greater awareness and intentionality with language and abandoning cisgender assumptions. Several participants also described health care-specific systemic barriers that could prevent a trans∗ patient from feeling comfortable. CONCLUSION: Providing new graduate nurses with education specific to trans∗ patients may help them to feel more knowledgeable and competent when caring for these individuals in SRH settings.

Innovation in Practice: Preparing Doulas to Support Cesarean Births.

Despite growing initiatives to support patient-centered labor and birth care, implementation of this care in the operating room is still limited. Doulas can be utilized in the operating room to facilitate evidence-based practices such as skin-to-skin contact for patients and newborns during cesarean birth. This article evaluates a curriculum and training method that was developed to educate doulas to provide safe and effective care during the cesarean birth experience. This intervention was found to be effective at improving doulas' self-perceived confidence in skills essential to support cesarean births and may serve as a model for other institutions to address barriers to the implementation of patient-centered evidence-based care in the operating room.

Evidence and guidelines for trauma-informed doula care.

OBJECTIVE: Trauma and trauma-related health conditions are common during pregnancy, but there is little evidence and guidance on how doulas (trained lay birth assistants) can provide trauma-informed care. The purpose of this narrative review is to critique and synthesize the existing evidence for trauma-informed doula care and to offer guidelines for practice. DESIGN: We conducted a narrative review of existing evidence in the peer-reviewed and gray literatures on trauma-informed care in maternity and perinatal settings including doula training curricula and community-based doula guidelines on trauma-informed doula care. Materials were analyzed for relevant data on trauma and pregnancy, evidence-based approaches for trauma-informed doula and perinatal care, and strengths/weaknesses of the evidence including research design, gaps in the evidence base, and populations included. SETTING: This narrative review focuses on trauma-informed doula care in the United States, although the evidence and guidelines provided are likely applicable in other settings. KEY CONCLUSIONS: To be trauma-informed, doulas must first realize the scope and impact of trauma on pregnancy including possible ways to recovery; then recognize signs and symptoms of trauma during pregnancy; be ready to respond by integrating evidence and sensitivity into all doula training and practices; and always resist re-traumatization. Trauma-informed doula care also centers on these 6 principles: safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support with other survivors; collaboration and mutuality; resilience, empowerment, voice, and choice; and social, cultural, and historical considerations. In practice, this includes universal trauma-informed doula care offered to all clients, trauma-targeted care that can be offered specifically to clients who are identified as trauma survivors, and connection to trauma specialist services.

Evaluation of an Innovative, Hospital-Based Volunteer Doula Program.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate program growth, doula characteristics, patient satisfaction, and characteristics and perceptions of labor and delivery nurses who work with volunteer doulas in a hospital-based volunteer doula program. DESIGN: Descriptive quantitative. SETTING: An academic health center in the southeastern United States with approximately 4,000 births per year. PARTICIPANTS: Participants (N = 519) included volunteer doulas (n = 80), labor and delivery nurses (n = 24), and women who were supported by doulas (n = 415). METHODS: We evaluated program growth by the number of doulas and women supported over time. We developed surveys to evaluate doula characteristics, patient satisfaction, and characteristics and perceptions of labor and delivery nurses who work with volunteer doulas. RESULTS: From 2012 to 2018, the number of Birth Partners doulas increased from 25 to 80. The annual number of women who received intrapartum care from doulas increased from 88 in 2012 to 477 in 2018. Doula characteristics included race, ethnicity, age, student or nonstudent status, and ability to speak Spanish. Of the 1,185 women who received doula support from 2015 to 2018, 415 (35%) responded to the patient satisfaction survey. Most were satisfied with the physical support (n = 379, 97.63%), emotional support (n = 384, 96.88%), doula care (n = 410, 96.34%), and support for family/friends (n = 346, 95.38%). All of the labor and delivery nurses who responded (n = 24, 100%) agreed or strongly agreed that doulas were important members of the maternity care team. CONCLUSION: In this evaluation, we highlight rapid program growth, expansion of services, and demographic characteristics of volunteer doulas; patient satisfaction with doula care; and acceptance of volunteer doulas among nursing staff. The data provided herein can be used to inform future development and guide the implementation of similar volunteer doula programs at other institutions.

Volunteer doulas' experiences supporting cesarean births: A qualitative analysis for preliminary program evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Cesarean birth is common in the United States and associated with increased incidence of medical complications and maternal dissatisfaction. Doula support is associated with improved maternal and newborn outcomes but is often restricted to vaginal birth. The aim of this scoping study was to explore the experiences of volunteer doulas who provide support to women during cesarean birth. METHODS: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with nine doula volunteers from one program to assess their experiences caring for clients in the operating room (OR). RESULTS: Doulas described their experiences supporting cesarean births in relation to four different relationship-level themes, relationships between: doulas and their clients (and clients' support persons); doulas and the physical environment (OR, labor and delivery unit); doulas and the OR interprofessional team; and doulas and the program culture. Doulas described perceived strengths and weaknesses of the OR-based program, and suggested improvements and future development opportunities. CONCLUSION: Doulas volunteering within this program highly valued their perceived role in the care of women experiencing cesarean birth, including reports of increasing evidence-based practices such as SSC and early breastfeeding initiation in the OR. These doulas reported successfully working around the physically challenging OR environment and alongside the cesarean interprofessional team.

Doulas in the Operating Room: An Innovative Approach to Supporting Skin-to-Skin Care During Cesarean Birth.

INTRODUCTION: Skin-to-skin care (SSC) immediately after birth is recommended for all women and their newborns. Barriers to SSC after cesarean birth lead to delays in initiation of this practice. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an innovative approach with volunteer doulas to support initiation of SSC after cesarean for all clients. PROCESS: Volunteer doulas in a well-established hospital-based program within an academic health center were trained to provide care during scheduled cesarean births in the operating and recovery rooms. Data on rate and time of SSC and client and nurse satisfaction were collected for a 12-week period. OUTCOMES: Sixty-six women received doula-supported care in the operating room. All medically stable woman-newborn couplets with complete data (N = 58) initiated SSC in the operating room and were included in the data analysis. Forty-eight women completed a feedback survey after birth. Scores indicated that clients agreed or strongly agreed that the doula was an important part of the birth experience. Feedback from labor and delivery nurses indicated highly positive attitudes about the importance of SSC and the presence of volunteer doulas. All nurses surveyed who had participated in doula care (n = 20) agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the doulas and that the doulas were prepared for this role. DISCUSSION: This project demonstrates that volunteer doulas can be prepared to provide supportive care to clients during and immediately after cesarean birth. Doulas can play an integral role in supporting the initiation of SSC after cesarean birth and are perceived as an important member of the maternity health care team by clients and nurses.