Project aim: To enhance access to pain relief information for pregnant patients, with a particular focus on individuals whose first language is not English, by utilising technology to support effective information delivery.

 

Method

 

• Surveyed 32 women attending antenatal appointments, the antenatal ward and maternity assessment unit.

• Questionnaire to assess current knowledge about analgesia, information sources used to seek information, and preferences for information delivery.

• Evaluated the current resources in the department, which comprised of posters.

• Interventions made:

• Updated posters (Figure 1) and ensured they were displayed in all appropriate areas. 

• Information cards were produced to give to women to encourage them to seek information about epidurals.

• A secondary questionnaire post-intervention assessed the impact on knowledge and preparedness for management of pain in labour.

 

Results

 

• In the pre-intervention group the average self-rated knowledge score was 5.97 out of 10, compared to 6.93 in the post intervention questionnaire.

• Preparedness for pain management also showed a slight improvement from a mean score of 6.50 to 6.57.

• Free text feedback was positive regarding digital information and visual information.

• There was an increase in the range of analgesia options women were considering using.

• These findings suggest that the visual information and digital resources promoted via QR codes increase patient knowledge and lead to more pain relief options being considered for in labour.

Further Development

• Ongoing distribution of posters and information cards.

• The project has been further developed to include slides of information and informative videos that are displayed on the TV screens within the department.

• Materials expanded to include information about spinal block. Overall, the project continues to improve the information available to all women and the use of technology provides a means of making information accessible in multiple languages.