TY - JOUR
T1 - What Should Be Discussed When Considering a Vaginal Birth? A Delphi Consensus Study
AU - the Options Collaborative Group
AU - Demetri, Andrew
AU - Davies, Anna
AU - Bakhbakhi, Danya
AU - Hunt, Alexandra
AU - Ijaz, Sharea
AU - McGuinness, Sheelagh
AU - Beasor, Gemma
AU - Clayton, Gemma
AU - Bradley, Vicky
AU - Bunni, Eve
AU - Kingdon, Carol
AU - Sharp, Andrew
AU - Burden, Christy
AU - Khalil, Asma
AU - Kenny, Louise
AU - Merriel, Abi
AU - Lawlor, Deborah
AU - Smith, Gordon
AU - Norman, Jane
AU - Heron, Jon
AU - Lavender, Dame Tina
AU - Lissauer, David
AU - McGoldrick, Emma
AU - Grant, Simon
AU - Abdel-Fattah, Sherif
AU - Bonnet, Laura
AU - Black, Mairead
AU - Finnikin, Samuel
AU - Wilson, Amie
AU - Freeman, Alexandra
AU - Blair, Pete
AU - Birchenall, Katherine
AU - Johnson, Joanne
AU - Johnson, Abigail
AU - de Souza, Chloe
AU - Dempsey, Aine
AU - Snook, Gabriella
PY - 2026/1/5
Y1 - 2026/1/5
N2 - Objective: Spontaneous vaginal births are often the presumed choice, representing 45% of UK births. However, information about benefits and risks is inconsistently given, impacting decision-making and experience. A Core Information Set (CIS) is an agreed set of information points discussed prior to a decision. We aimed to develop a CIS for vaginal birth. Design: A Delphi study was used to create the CIS. Information points were identified from a literature search, patient leaflets, interviews, and a survey. These informed a two-round Delphi survey, where stakeholders rated item importance. Items rated critically important by ≥ 80% of parents or professionals, and of limited importance by < 15%, progressed to consensus meetings, where 20 parents and professionals discussed retained items. The final CIS was populated with an engagement group ensuring accessibility. Setting: The study took place in the UK, with participants recruited online. Population: Pregnant and postnatal women, birth partners, healthcare professionals, medicolegal professionals, and representatives from relevant organizations. Main Outcome: A CIS for vaginal birth. Results: 77 information items were identified. In round 1 (631 participants) of the Delphi Survey, 84.5% were from the patient group and 15.5% from the professional group; in round 2 (228 participants), 74.3% were from the patient group and 25.7% from the professional group. 29 items met the criteria for consensus discussion. The final CIS includes 19 information points addressing: labour process, pain relief, labour complications, procedures or interventions during labour, experiences after birth, outcomes for the baby and labour environment.Conclusions: This CIS can facilitate discussions and support informed decision-making about vaginal birth.
AB - Objective: Spontaneous vaginal births are often the presumed choice, representing 45% of UK births. However, information about benefits and risks is inconsistently given, impacting decision-making and experience. A Core Information Set (CIS) is an agreed set of information points discussed prior to a decision. We aimed to develop a CIS for vaginal birth. Design: A Delphi study was used to create the CIS. Information points were identified from a literature search, patient leaflets, interviews, and a survey. These informed a two-round Delphi survey, where stakeholders rated item importance. Items rated critically important by ≥ 80% of parents or professionals, and of limited importance by < 15%, progressed to consensus meetings, where 20 parents and professionals discussed retained items. The final CIS was populated with an engagement group ensuring accessibility. Setting: The study took place in the UK, with participants recruited online. Population: Pregnant and postnatal women, birth partners, healthcare professionals, medicolegal professionals, and representatives from relevant organizations. Main Outcome: A CIS for vaginal birth. Results: 77 information items were identified. In round 1 (631 participants) of the Delphi Survey, 84.5% were from the patient group and 15.5% from the professional group; in round 2 (228 participants), 74.3% were from the patient group and 25.7% from the professional group. 29 items met the criteria for consensus discussion. The final CIS includes 19 information points addressing: labour process, pain relief, labour complications, procedures or interventions during labour, experiences after birth, outcomes for the baby and labour environment.Conclusions: This CIS can facilitate discussions and support informed decision-making about vaginal birth.
KW - consensus
KW - core information set
KW - Delphi technique
KW - informed consent
KW - stakeholders
KW - vaginal birth
KW - women
KW - women's health
U2 - 10.1111/1471-0528.70071
DO - 10.1111/1471-0528.70071
M3 - Article
C2 - 41255065
AN - SCOPUS:105023980088
SN - 1470-0328
VL - 133
SP - 520
EP - 531
JO - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
JF - BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
IS - 3
ER -