Journal of midwifery & women's health
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J Midwifery Womens Health · Jul 2021
Launching the Reduction of Peripartum Racial/Ethnic Disparities Bundle: A Quality Improvement Project.
Health care organizations have a responsibility to reduce racial and ethnic perinatal health disparities. In the United States, Black women experience the worst perinatal outcomes. The process for successfully addressing this problem in clinical practice remains unclear. ⋯ This quality improvement project demonstrated that interventions at the health care organization level can be effective in influencing health care providers and staff to address racial and ethnic perinatal disparities.
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J Midwifery Womens Health · Mar 2021
ReviewCore Outcome Sets Relevant to Maternity Service Users: A Scoping Review.
Variation in outcomes reported in maternity-related clinical trials and practice stifles data synthesis and contributes to ineffective or harmful treatments and interventions. Variation can be addressed using core outcome sets (COSs), minimum agreed sets of outcomes that should be measured and reported in all clinical trials in a specific area of health or health care. This scoping review identified studies that developed maternity-related COSs; evaluated the extent, scope, quality, and consistency of outcomes across similar COSs; and identified current gaps in evidence. ⋯ Growth in COS development in the last 3 years signifies increasing commitment to address variation and improve data synthesis. Although the quality of the development process has improved in the last 3 years, there is a need for improvement. This article presents an urgent need to minimize overlap in outcomes and standardize outcome measurement, case definitions, and timing of measurement between COSs.
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J Midwifery Womens Health · Mar 2021
ReviewMyofascial Pelvic Pain: An Overlooked and Treatable Cause of Chronic Pelvic Pain.
Myofascial pelvic pain is a common, nonarticular musculoskeletal disorder characterized by the presence of myofascial trigger points in the lower abdominal wall and/or pelvic floor muscles. Myofascial pelvic pain is involved in an estimated 22% to 94% of cases of chronic pelvic pain, which is one of the most common gynecologic conditions in the United States. ⋯ This article reviews the pathophysiology, assessment, and treatment options for myofascial pelvic pain, with a particular focus on trigger point injections. Increased recognition and treatment of this commonly overlooked diagnosis has the potential to improve care and outcomes for many patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain.
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J Midwifery Womens Health · Nov 2020
ReviewEthical Considerations for Short-Term Global Health Projects.
Various types of health professional volunteers from high-income nations are increasingly engaged in short-term global health projects in low- and middle-income countries. The goal of global health projects is to improve health for all people and address health inequities. Short-term projects lasting days to months can create challenges for volunteers and hosts. ⋯ Partnerships that are founded on principles of justice and autonomy provide an avenue for mutual collaboration. Short-term global health projects that focus on host needs are likely to strengthen local capacity to improve health outcomes. This article reviews guidelines for short-term global health experiences and addresses the ethical principles for planning effective projects.
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J Midwifery Womens Health · Jul 2020
Pregnant Women with Obesity Have Unique Perceptions About Gestational Weight Gain, Exercise, and Support for Behavior Change.
Prepregnancy obesity and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) pose health risks to woman and fetus, yet gestational weight management interventions are largely unsuccessful. Little research examines the perceptions of women with obesity about weight gain and exercise. Although women with obesity have different body habitus and life experiences, most studies combine overweight and obese women into one group. ⋯ Pregnant women with obesity share other pregnant women's perceptions about weight gain and exercise in pregnancy but also have unique perceptions. Pregnant women with obesity in this study reported feeling stigmatized and fearful of being shamed by their health care providers but paradoxically eager for guidance. The findings offer implications for health care counseling and GWG interventions for this population.