Hong Li

Effect of mode of delivery on the incidence of urinary incontinence in primiparous women.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of mode of delivery on the incidence of urinary incontinence in primiparous women. METHODS: A population-based survey was mailed to all Oregon women who delivered a liveborn neonate in a 1-year period. Data were collected on urinary incontinence, childbirth experience, and other risk factors for incontinence at 3–6 months postpartum. Univariable analyses were conducted using t tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous variables and &khgr;2 tests for categorical variables. Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for demographic and clinical risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 15,787 women completed the survey, for a response rate of 39%. Of these women, 5,599 were primiparous, completed the survey in the desired timeframe, submitted information on their urinary continence, and did not have incontinence before pregnancy. A total of 955 (17.1%) reported leakage of urine. Women who had vaginal deliveries were more likely to have urinary incontinence than women who had cesarean deliveries (odds ratio 4.96 [95% confidence interval 3.82–6.44], P<.001). This risk increased with assisted delivery and perineal laceration. No statistical difference in the incidence of urinary incontinence was found among women who had elective cesarean deliveries (6.1%), women who had cesarean deliveries after laboring (5.7%), and women who had cesarean deliveries after laboring and pushing (6.4%). CONCLUSION: Urinary incontinence is common in the immediate postpartum period after a woman’s first pregnancy. Although vaginal delivery increases the risk of urinary incontinence, labor and pushing alone without vaginal delivery do not appear to increase this risk significantly. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Incidence of fecal incontinence after childbirth

OBJECTIVE: Fecal incontinence is an embarrassing and disabling condition of which the epidemiology is poorly understood. Our goal is to estimate the incidence of fecal incontinence after childbirth. METHODS: A population-based survey was mailed to all women who delivered a liveborn infant in the state of Oregon between April 2002 and September 2002. The survey estimated the incidence of fecal incontinence. Surveys were to be completed within 3–6 months postpartum. Women were considered to have fecal incontinence based upon the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development definition of fecal incontinence: recurring episodes of involuntary loss of stool or flatus. RESULTS: Surveys were mailed to 21,824 eligible postpartum women. A total of 8,774 women responded (40%) to the survey, 2,569 (29%) of whom reported experiencing fecal incontinence since delivery. Almost half (46%) of all women with postpartum fecal incontinence reported incontinence of stool, and 38% reported exclusively incontinence of flatus. Approximately 46% reported onset of incontinence after delivery of their first child. Higher body mass index, longer pushing, forceps-assisted delivery, third- or fourth-degree laceration, and smoking were associated with severe fecal incontinence. CONCLUSION: In this population-based study, more than one in four women reported fecal incontinence within 6 months of childbirth, with almost half reporting onset of symptoms after delivery of their first child. Four in 10 women reported loss of flatus or stool during intercourse. Given the burden of this condition, both in number and social impact coupled with the hesitancy of women to want to initiate this conversation, providers should ask women about symptoms of fecal incontinence during postpartum examinations. Additionally, these data suggest that there may be a benefit to extending postpartum follow-up visits beyond the typical 6–8 weeks to provide surveillance for potential incontinence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II

Geoclimatic Influences on Invasive Aspergillosis after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUND Aspergillus species are ubiquitous. We hypothesized that climatic variables that affect airborne mold counts affect the incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA). METHODS Patients who received hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) in geographically and climatically diverse regions (Seattle, WA, and Houston, TX) were examined. Cumulative incidence function, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox proportional hazards regression were performed to examine the association between IA and season. Poisson regression analysis was performed to evaluate the seasonal patterns in IA rates and association with spore counts and climate. RESULTS In Seattle, the 3-month incidence of IA was 4.6% (5.7% in allograft recipients and 0.8% in autograft recipients). During the 10-year study period, there was a decrease in the incidence of IA among allogeneic HSCT recipients, corresponding to decreased risks during the nonsummer months; receipt of HSCTs during the summer months was associated with an increased hazard for IA (hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-2.81) after adjustment for other known risks. The person-month IA rate in Seattle was positively associated with environmental spore counts, which increased with high temperature and low precipitation. No seasonal effect on IA was observed in Houston, where total spore counts were lower and not variable by climate. CONCLUSIONS Climatic variables differentially affect airborne spore counts and IA risk in geographically disparate centers.

Validation of a tool to measure and promote clinical teamwork.

Objective: Human factors and teamwork are major contributors to sentinel events. A major limitation to improving human factors and teamwork is the paucity of objective validated measurement tools. Our goal was to develop a brief tool that could be used to objectively evaluate teamwork in the field during short clinical team simulations and in everyday clinical care. Study Design: A pilot validation study. Standardized videos were created demonstrating poor, average, and excellent teamwork among an obstetric team in a common clinical scenario (shoulder dystocia). Three evaluators all trained in Crew Resource Management, and unaware of assigned teamwork level, independently reviewed videos and evaluated teamwork using the Clinical Teamwork Scale (CTS). Statistical analysis included calculation of the Kappa statistic and Kendall coefficient to evaluate agreement and score concordance among raters, and Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) to evaluate interrater reliability. The reliability of the tool was further evaluated by estimating the variance of each component of the tool based on generalizability theory. Results: There was substantial agreement (Kappa 0.78) and score concordance (Kendall coefficient 0.95) among raters, and excellent interrater reliability (interclass correlation coefficient 0.98). The highest percentage of variance in scores among raters was because of rater/item interaction. Conclusion: The CTS was developed to efficiently measure key clinical teamwork skills during simulation exercises and in everyday clinical care. It contains 15 questions in 5 clinical teamwork domains (communication, situational awareness, decision-making, role responsibility, and patient friendliness). It is easy to use and has construct validity with median ratings consistently corresponding with the intended teamwork level. The CTS is a brief, straightforward, valid, reliable, and easy-to-use tool to measure key factors in teamwork in simulated and clinical settings.

Examining the value of electronic health records on labor and delivery

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of an electronic health record (EHR) on documentation completeness and patient care in a labor and delivery unit. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a pre- and postintervention study to compare documentation quality and workflow before and after EHR implementation. Documentation was compared using chi(2) and Fishers exact tests. Objective observers measured workflow activities across all shifts before and after EHR implementation and activities were compared using Kruskal-Wallis tests and analysis of covariance. RESULTS Paper admission records were significantly more likely to miss key clinical information such as chief complaints (contractions, membrane status, bleeding, fetal movement, 10-64% vs 2-5%; P < .0001) and prenatal laboratory results and history (Varicella, group B Streptococcus, human immunodeficiency virus, 26-66% vs 1-16%, P < .0001). Both direct patient care and computer activities increased after EHR implementation (2 vs 12 and 12 vs 17 activities/shift, respectively, P < .0001). CONCLUSION The introduction of an obstetric EHR improved documentation completeness without reducing direct patient care.

Paracervical Block for Pain Control in First-trimester Surgical Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: Despite lack of efficacy data, the majority of first-trimester surgical abortions are performed with a paracervical block. Women may be unnecessarily exposed to a painful injection and potentially noxious medication. Our objective was to estimate the effect of a paracervical block and the effect of gestational age on patient pain perception. METHODS: This was a randomized, single-blind trial of patients undergoing abortion receiving paracervical block or sham stratified by gestational age (early: less than 8 weeks of gestation, n=60; late: 8–10 6/7 weeks of gestation, n=60). Premedicated with ibuprofen and lorazepam, all participants received 2 mL 1% buffered lidocaine injected at the tenaculum site followed by a slow, deep injection of 18 mL at four sites (block) or no injection (sham) with a 3-minute wait. The primary outcome was dilation pain (100-mm visual analog scale). Secondary outcomes included pain at additional time points, satisfaction, need for more analgesics, and adverse events. RESULTS: Full enrollment occurred (n=120). We used intent-to-treat analysis. Demographics did not differ between groups. Paracervical block administration was painful (mean 55 mm compared with sham 30 mm, P<.001) but decreased dilation pain (42 mm compared with 79 mm, P<.001) and aspiration pain (63mm compared with 89 mm, P<.001). These results were consistent for both gestational age strata; however, paracervical block benefit was greater at an earlier gestation. Satisfaction scores with pain control and the procedure were significantly higher in the block group. CONCLUSION: Although paracervical block is painful, it reduces first-trimester abortion pain regardless of gestational age, but the benefit on dilation pain was greater at earlier gestations. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01094366. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I

Quality of life in women with postpartum anal incontinence

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of anal incontinence on postpartum quality of life (QOL). METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal follow-up study of women reporting anal incontinence on a statewide postpartum survey to estimate the effect of anal incontinence on QOL up to 2 years postpartum. Quality of life was assessed every 6 months for 2 years based on the Uebersax incontinence impact questionnaire. The effect of severe anal incontinence on QOL was determined by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1,050 women reported persistent anal incontinence and returned at least two completed QOL surveys during the 2-year study period. Among women with anal incontinence, 51% reported frustration caused by anal incontinence, 26% reported that anal incontinence affected their emotional health, 18.5% reported anal incontinence affected their child-caring abilities, and 16.2% reported a negative effect on social activities. One in three women with anal incontinence reported severe symptoms. Compared with women with mild anal incontinence, women with severe anal incontinence were four to seven times as likely to report that anal incontinence affected emotional health and the ability to perform daily activities. However, only 10% of women sought medical help for anal incontinence at 6 months, 13.5% at 1 year, and 16.7% at 2 years. CONCLUSION: Even 2 years after delivery, more than a quarter of women who experience a new onset of anal incontinence after childbirth report persistently negative QOL. Despite this, few women discuss anal incontinence with their medical providers. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III

Personalized contraceptive assistance and uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptives by postpartum women: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Many women who intend to use long-acting, reversible contraceptives (LARCs) postpartum do not follow through with initiating use. The objectives of this study were to determine whether support from a contraceptive personal assistant could increase the uptake of LARCs by 3 months postpartum, and to identify risk factors for nonuptake of LARCs among women who planned LARC use. STUDY DESIGN This is a randomized, controlled trial of 50 low-income postpartum women who desired LARC. The intervention group received telephone contact from a personal assistant who provided contraception education, facilitation of insurance coverage, appointment scheduling and assistance with childcare and transportation. The control group received routine follow up. Women were surveyed immediately and 3 months postpartum regarding contraceptive use and anticipated barriers to LARC use. RESULTS A similar proportion of women in both groups received LARC [control 16/24 (67%), intervention 18/25 (72%), p=.76]. More primiparous (86.4%) than multiparous (55.5%) women obtained LARC (p=.04). In addition, women with more prenatal visits were more likely to have initiated LARC (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval for each increased visit: 1.50, 1.15-1.96). No other demographic factors were related to LARC uptake. CONCLUSIONS Providing telephone assistance to help navigate barriers did not increase postpartum uptake of LARCs. A personal history of clinic visit no-shows and/or infrequent prenatal visits were related to poor uptake of LARCs postpartum.