Effect of the use of a national information brochure about fetal movements on patient delay

Background

Perinatal audits in the Netherlands showed that stillbirth was nearly always preceded by a period of reduced fetal movements. Patient or caregiver delay was identified as a substandard care factor.

Aim

To determine whether the use of a new information brochure for pregnant women on fetal movements results in less patient delay in contacting their maternity caregiver.

Methods

A pre- and post-survey cohort study in the Netherlands, including 140 women in maternity care with a singleton pregnancy, expecting their first child. All participating women filled out a baseline questionnaire, Cambridge Worry Scale and pre-test questionnaire at the gestational age of 22–24 weeks. Subsequently, the intervention group received a newly developed information brochure on fetal movements. At a gestational age of 28 weeks, all women received the post-test questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were used.

Findings

Per-protocol analysis showed less patient delay in the intervention group compared to the control group (Odds Ratio 0.43; 95% Confidence Interval 0.17–0.86, p = 0.02). A significant linear relation was observed between reading the information brochure and an increase of knowledge about fetal movements (B = 1.2, 95% Confidence Interval 1.0–1.4, p < 0.001). Maternal concerns did not affect patient delay to report reduced fetal movements.

Conclusion

Use of an information brochure regarding fetal movements has the potential to reduce patient delay and increase knowledge about reduced fetal movements. A national survey to determine the effect of an information brochure about reduced fetal movements on patient delay and stillbirth rates is needed.