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Peter Brocklehurst

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Brocklehurst.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Donor breast milk versus infant formula for preterm infants: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of donor breast milk with infant formula in preterm infants. Separate comparisons with formula were made for donor breast milk that was: (1) given as a sole diet; (2) given as a supplement to mother's own breast milk; and (3) fortified with macronutrients and micronutrients. The main outcomes were death, necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), infection, growth and development. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases-Cochrane, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and HMIC: DH. REVIEW METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of trials and observational studies of preterm or low birthweight infants. RESULTS: Seven studies (including five randomised controlled trials), all from the 1970s and 1980s, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All studies compared the effect of sole donor breast milk with formula (combined n = 471). One of these also compared the effect of donor breast milk with formula given as a supplement to mother's own milk (n = 343). No studies examined fortified donor breast milk. A meta-analysis based on three studies found a lower risk of NEC in infants receiving donor breast milk compared with formula (combined RR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.76). Donor breast milk was associated with slower growth in the early postnatal period, but its long-term effect is unclear. CONCLUSION: Donor breast milk is associated with a lower risk of NEC and slower growth in the early postnatal period, but the quality of the evidence is limited. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and measure the effect of fortified or supplemented donor breast milk.

Child↗
PubMed2006

Risk factors for hospital admission related to excessive and/or prolonged postpartum vaginal blood loss after the first 24 h following childbirth.

A population case-control study was used to determine risk factors for excessive and/or prolonged vaginal bleeding (described collectively as vaginal loss problems) and uterine infection from 24 h to 3 months postpartum. Data were obtained from women whose maternity care took place in one of two health districts in the south of England. The cases were women remaining in or admitted to hospital with excessive or prolonged vaginal blood loss from 24 h to 3 months postpartum. Two controls for each case were identified; these were women whose delivery was the nearest in time and in the same location as the case delivery. Medical and midwifery records were searched retrospectively to cover hospital admissions for vaginal blood loss problems or uterine infection in postpartum women from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1995. Data were analysed for 243 cases and 486 controls. Univariable analysis identified 28 variables associated with being a case. Using multivariable analysis, nine factors remained in the final model, with a history of secondary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) being the most strongly predictive (OR [95% confidence interval] 6.0 [2.1, 16.8]). Vaginal bleeding prior to 24 weeks' gestation (OR 3.0 [1.6, 5.9]), third trimester hospital admission (OR 2.0 [1.4, 2.8]), maternal smoking (OR 2.7 [1.8, 3.9]), a prolonged (OR 3.1 [1.2, 7.5]) or incomplete third stage (OR 2.1 [1.0, 4.4]), and primary PPH (OR 4.7 [1.9, 11.6]) for blood loss >500 mL, were predictive of becoming a case. No significant association was identified for parity (OR 1.1 [0.8, 1.5]) or method of delivery, spontaneous (OR 1.0 [0.7, 1.3]), instrumental (OR 1.4 [0.9, 2.2]) or operative (OR 1.2 [0.8, 1.9]). This is a neglected area of women's health after childbirth, and the value of this study is in the identification of potential risk factors for postpartum morbidity related to vaginal blood loss. Where morbidity occurs, early diagnosis, management and treatment are likely to reduce its extent or duration. It is considered that raising awareness about these factors, both among healthcare professionals and women themselves, may play an important part in the recognition and treatment of postpartum morbidity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The effect of a monetary incentive on return of a postal health and development questionnaire: a randomised trial [ISRCTN53994660].

BACKGROUND: Postal questionnaires are widely used to collect data in healthcare research but a poor response rate may reduce the validity and reliability of results. There was a lack of evidence available relating to use of a monetary incentive to improve the response rate in the healthcare setting. METHODS: The MRC ORACLE Children Study is assessing the health and development of nearly 9000 seven year old children whose mothers' joined the MRC ORACLE Trial. We carried out a randomised controlled trial of inclusion of monetary incentive (five pound voucher redeemable at many high street stores) with the reminder questionnaire to parents. This trial took place between April 2002 and November 2003. When the parents were sent the reminder questionnaire about their child's health and development they were randomly assigned by concealed computer-generated allocation stratified by week of birthday to receive a five pound voucher or no incentive. The population were 722 non-responders to the initial mailing of a 12-page questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Difference in response rate between the two groups. RESULTS: Inclusion of the voucher with the reminder questionnaire resulted in a 11.7%(95% CI 4.7% to 18.6%) improvement in the response rate between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This improvement in response rate and hence the validity and reliability of results obtained appears to be justified ethically and financially.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Effect on survey response rate of hand written versus printed signature on a covering letter: randomised controlled trial [ISRCTN67566265].

BACKGROUND: It is important that response rates to postal surveys are as high as possible to ensure that the results are representative and to maximise statistical power. Previous research has suggested that any personalisation of approach helps to improve the response rate. This experiment tested whether personalising questionnaires by hand signing the covering letter improved the response rate compared with a non-personalised group where the investigator's signature on the covering letter was scanned into the document and printed. METHODS: Randomised controlled trial. Questionnaires about surgical techniques of caesarean section were mailed to 3,799 Members and Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists resident in the UK. Individuals were randomly allocated to receive a covering letter with either a computer printed signature or a hand written signature. Two reminders were sent to non-respondents. The outcome measures were the proportion of questionnaires returned and their time to return. RESULTS: The response rate was 79.1% (1506/1905) in the hand-signed group and 78.4% (1484/1894) in the scanned and printed signature group. There was no detectable difference between the groups in response rate or time taken to respond. CONCLUSION: No advantage was detected to hand signing the covering letter accompanying a postal questionnaire to health professionals.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Evidence based care.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed2005

Acute obstetric emergency drill in England and Wales: a survey of practice.

Multidisciplinary training for obstetric emergencies is an issue of current interest and debate in the UK. This paper presents a survey of current practice in obstetric emergency drill training in England and Wales. A wide range of training methods and opinions about these methods are demonstrated in this survey. There is much interest in improving the management of obstetric emergencies and this is to be encouraged. However, reliable methods to assess and thereby optimise methods are urgently required in order that women and their babies can realise the maximum benefit from these complex interventions.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2004

Thromboprophylaxis and pregnancy: two randomized controlled pilot trials that used low-molecular-weight heparin.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to conduct pilot studies for large randomized controlled trials to compare low-molecular-weight heparin with placebo for antenatal thromboprophylaxis (trial 1), and for thromboprophylaxis after cesarean delivery (trial 2). STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter randomized controlled trials (trial 1, 23 units; trial 2, 8 units) were conducted. Pregnant women at increased risk for thromboembolic disease were eligible for trial 1; women who underwent cesarean delivery were eligible for trial 2. The interventions were once daily injections of low-molecular-weight heparin or placebo. Primary outcomes were as follows: trial 1, confirmed symptomatic thromboembolic events and symptomatic osteoporotic fractures; trial 2, confirmed symptomatic thromboembolic events and wound complications. RESULTS: Sixteen women were recruited for trial 1; 1 woman in the placebo group had a symptomatic thromboembolic event. One hundred forty-one women were recruited for trial 2; 1 woman in the low molecular weight heparin group had a symptomatic thromboembolic event. CONCLUSION: Poor recruitment indicates that large-scale trials using these designs would be difficult. Collection of data on the number of women that are eligible and the reasons for nonrecruitment in future trials of these interventions would allow a better understanding of the reasons for poor recruitment.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

How should randomised trials including multiple pregnancies be analysed?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of four methods of analysis on the results of randomised controlled trials that recruit women with multiple pregnancies and measure outcomes on their babies. DESIGN: Analysis of one real and two simulated data sets. SETTING: Secondary analysis of perinatal randomised controlled trials. POPULATION: Randomised controlled trials including women with multiple pregnancies. METHODS: The analytical methods compared were (a) assuming independence among babies, (b) analysing outcomes per women, counting a woman as having an outcome if any of her babies had it (equivalent to selecting the worst outcome among any of a woman's babies), (c) randomly selecting one baby from each set of multiples for inclusion in the analysis, (d) adjustment of the analysis to take account of non-independence of babies from multiple pregnancies, using methods developed for analysis of cluster randomised trials. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds ratios for trials' main outcomes. RESULTS: Results from application of cluster trial methods were similar to those from assuming independence among babies, but with slightly wider confidence intervals, reflecting the reduced effective sample size caused by non-independence between babies from the same pregnancy. Results were more variable using the other two methods, and in some cases, departed markedly from the results of the cluster trial methods. CONCLUSIONS: Cluster trial methods provide a simple way of adjusting the analysis to take account of non-independence between babies from the same pregnancy. Random selection and analysis by pregnancy (methods (b) and (c)) have disadvantages and do not report outcomes for all of the babies in the trial. This may cause problems with incorporating trials analysed using these methods into systematic reviews.

Cluster Analysis↗
PubMed2004

Antenatal screening and intrapartum management of Group B Streptococcus in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there has been any change in UK policy for the screening and intrapartum management of Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy over a two year period. DESIGN: Two national survey's of practice carried out in 1999 and 2001. SETTING: All obstetric units in the UK. POPULATION: Clinical directors of maternity services. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to all clinical directors of maternity services in the UK requesting information about their policy and practice with respect to antenatal screening for Group B Streptococcus colonisation. Reminders were sent after one month. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of maternity units in the UK screening and offering intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for Group B Streptococcus colonisation in pregnancy. RESULTS: The response rates were 84% in 1999 and 82% in 2001. Of the responding units, six (3%) in 1999 and four (2%) in 2001 used vaginal swab based screening for Group B Streptococcus colonisation in the antenatal period. In 1999, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was offered to women with a previous baby affected by Group B Streptococcus in 85% (176/207) of maternity units and in 2001 this had risen to 95% (193/203). Similarly, in 1999 intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was offered to women who were known carriers of Group B Streptococcus in 87% (179/207) of maternity units and in 2001 this had risen to 95% (193/203). Appropriate dosage of a recommended antibiotic was prescribed in 7% (9/123) units in 1999 and in 20% (35/178) units in 2001. CONCLUSIONS: Although intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for women at high risk of giving birth to babies with Group B Streptococcus is widely practiced in the UK, a programme of antenatal screening for Group B Streptococcus colonisation has not been adopted along the lines advocated in the USA. There therefore remains an opportunity to evaluate such a screening programme in a randomised trial.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗
PubMed2003

A systematic review of training in acute obstetric emergencies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe models used for the training of labour ward personnel in acute obstetric emergencies and to describe how these models have been evaluated and compared. DESIGN: A systematic review of the following databases: Medline, the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, PsycLit, Allied and Alternative Medicine, Education Resources Information Center and the Cochrane Library using a structured search strategy. SETTING: Labour ward. POPULATION OR SAMPLE: Labour ward personnel. INCLUSION CRITERIA: All papers that described or evaluated any form of drill or training in acute obstetric emergencies involving any personnel in a labour ward environment were included. Descriptions of training in developing countries were excluded. METHODS: Papers were classified as editorials or commentaries, papers describing a training programme or papers evaluating a training method. A data collection form was used to extract relevant information by two investigators independently. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Description of training models. RESULTS: Of 44 relevant papers, 22 were classed as editorials or commentaries. Six descriptions of training programmes were found and four papers involved an evaluation of such programmes. All evaluations involved the use of questionnaires to course participants. No studies comparing one form of training with another were found. CONCLUSIONS: With regard to training in acute obstetric emergencies, few training programmes have been described, and even fewer have been evaluated. Training methods need to be developed, described and evaluated; further well-conducted research for this important intervention is urgently required.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Surgical techniques used during caesarean section operations: results of a national survey of practice in the UK.

OBJECTIVE: To determine what surgical techniques are used by obstetricians in the UK for elective and emergency caesarean section operations. STUDY DESIGN: A postal questionnaire to all members and fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) resident in the UK, requesting information about the use of surgical techniques and antibiotic and anticoagulant prophylaxis for elective and emergency caesarean sections. RESULTS: The response rate was 78.7%. A range of techniques was used for all procedures in caesarean section operations. Only a few techniques were used by more than 80% of obstetricians, including double layer closure of the uterus, use of prophylactic antibiotics and Pfannenstiel abdominal entry (for elective caesarean sections). There were few large differences in practice between elective and emergency caesarean sections. In emergency operations, more obstetricians use the Joel-Cohen method of abdominal entry (32.7 versus 16%) and more usually use prophylactic antibiotics and heparin (93.2 versus 85.4% and 45.8 versus 32.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There was wide variation in the surgical techniques used by obstetricians for caesarean section operations. There is an urgent need for future research to evaluate many aspects of caesarean section operations on substantive short- and long-term outcomes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗