Imaging of the birth canal opening during labour as a pushing aid among first-time mothers

ISRCTN ISRCTN57404917
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN57404917
Secondary identifying numbers 2021105-10643
Submission date
20/11/2021
Registration date
23/11/2021
Last edited
23/11/2021
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
We plan to evaluate whether the real-time video of the mother as visual biofeedback in addition to standard healthcare provider verbal coaching can impact the time it takes to push the baby out and maternal satisfaction.

Who can participate?
Pregnant women aged more than 18 years old who have no previous pregnancy beyond 20 weeks and who is planning for vaginal delivery.

What does the study involve?
During pushing, half of participants will be provided with a display screen showing their birth canal opening or face in order to help and motivate them to push more effectively. The other half will proceed as usual.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Effective visual feedback may shorten pushing time and increase maternal satisfaction.
Major complications are not anticipated. Visual feedback may prove to be a distraction rather than a help.

Where is the study run from?
Labour room of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) (Malaysia)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2021 to February 2023

Who is funding the study?
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UMMC (Malaysia)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Noor Ashikin
ashikin.hamid@ummc.edu.my

Contact information

Dr Noor Ashikin Abdul Hamid
Scientific

494, Jalan Cengal 1/19
Taman Cengal Indah 2
Kulim
09000
Malaysia

Phone +60 (0)124842969
Email ashikin.hamid@ummc.edu.my

Study information

Study designSingle-centre open-label randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet 40698 PIS v1.0 07Oct2021.pdf
Scientific titleReal-time imaging as visual biofeedback in active second stage of labour among nulliparas women: a randomised controlled trial
Study acronymRIVBASSLAN
Study objectivesNulliparas women who utilized visual biofeedback of the maternal introitus compared to the maternal face (sham/placebo) are more likely to have shorter duration of active second stage of labour and higher satisfaction with pushing experience during birth
Ethics approval(s)Approved 20/10/2021, Medical Research Ethics Committee (University of Malaya Medical Centre, Lembah Pantai, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; +60 (0)3-79493209; no email provided), ref: 2021105-10643
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedChildbirth
InterventionPatients admitted to the ward for planned vaginal delivery and who study criteria will be approached for recruitment. Written informed consent will be taken. Once participants are about to start the active second stage of labour, they will be randomised to biofeedback or sham/placebo control by the opening of the lowest numbered sealed opaque envelope remaining to reveal the allocated intervention.

Patients allocated to the study group will be using visual biofeedback during her second stage of labour. A video camera will be placed on a stand at the end of the bed with the maternal introitus in focus and a display monitor on a stand will be placed next to the bedside in clear view of the participant

Patients in the control group will be coached during the second stage as per standard care. The display monitor of the participants in the control group will show their face during the second stage.

All participants are asked to watch the display screen carefully during pushing and listen to the standard verbal coaching that will be given to all participants by the care providers conducting the delivery. In synchronization with the uterine contraction, participants will be encouraged to bear down while observing the movement of the fetal head on introitus the display screen, thus receiving visual biofeedback of her pushing effort.

The live feed video streaming from camera to display will not be captured or recorded

Demographic data are transcribed onto the Case Report Form

The participants’ electronic hospital records will be retrieved to obtain maternal and neonatal outcome data.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureMeasured using patient records at the end of the study:
1. Duration of the active second stage of labour which defined as the minutes from the start of biofeedback during active pushing to delivery of fetus
2. Maternal satisfaction with pushing experience during birth
Secondary outcome measuresMeasured using patient records at the end of the study:
1. Birth weight (kg)
2. Umbilical cord arterial blood pH and base excess at birth
3. Health at birth measured using Apgar score at 1 and 5 minute
4. Special care nursery/ neonatal intensive care unit admission during birth admission
5. Indication for neonatal admission
6. Mode of delivery
7. Estimated blood loss during delivery
8. Degree of perineal tear
Overall study start date01/08/2021
Completion date01/02/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexFemale
Target number of participants220
Key inclusion criteria1. Nulliparous
2. Age ≥18 years
3. Singleton pregnancy
4. Cephalic presentation
5. No contraindication for vaginal delivery
6. Reassuring fetal status (normal fetal heart rate tracing)
7. About to commence pushing
Key exclusion criteria1. Patient who is suspected COVID 19 infection or COVID 19 positive
2. Known gross fetal anomaly
3. Planned instrumental delivery to shorten second stage
4. Maternal severe visual impairment
5. History of maladaptive maternal response to visual stimuli provoking e.g., migraine, seizure
Date of first enrolment01/12/2021
Date of final enrolment01/01/2023

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Malaysia

Study participating centre

University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC)
Kuala Lumpur
59100
Malaysia

Sponsor information

University Malaya Medical Centre
University/education

Department of Obstestrics and Gynaecology
Faculty of Medicine
University of Malaya Medical Centre
Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz
Kuala Lumpur
59200
Malaysia

Phone +60 37949 4422
Email grow@ummc.edu.my
Website http://www.ummc.edu.my/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00vkrxq08

Funders

Funder type

University/education

Universiti Malaya
Government organisation / Universities (academic only)
Alternative name(s)
University of Malaya, University Malaya, Malayan University, UM
Location
Malaysia

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/01/2024
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Dr Noor Ashikin (ashikin.hamid@ummc.edu.my)

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet version 1.0 07/10/2021 23/11/2021 No Yes
Protocol file version 1.0 07/10/2021 23/11/2021 No No

Additional files

40698 Protocol v1.0 07Oct2021.pdf
40698 PIS v1.0 07Oct2021.pdf

Editorial Notes

23/11/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by Medical Research Ethics Committee, University of Malaya Medical Centre.