Implementation of evidence-based practices in normal delivery care

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the impact of the implementation of evidence-based practices on normal delivery care. METHOD: quasi-experimental, before-and-after intervention study conducted in a public maternity hospital, Amapá. Forty-two professionals and 280 puerperal women were interviewed and data from 555 medical records were analyzed. The study was developed in three phases: baseline audit (phase 1), educational intervention (phase 2) and post-intervention audit (phase 3). RESULTS: after the intervention, there was an increase of 5.3 percentage points (p.p.) in the normal delivery rate. Interviews with the women revealed a significant increase of the presence of companions during labor (10.0 p.p.) and of adoption of the upright or squatting position (31.4 p.p.); significant reduction of amniotomy (16.8 p.p.), lithotomy position (24.3 p.p.), and intravenous oxytocin (17.1 p.p.). From the professionals’ perspective, there was a statistical reduction in the prescription/administration of oxytocin (29.6 p.p.). In the analysis of medical records, a significant reduction in the rate of amniotomy (29.5 p.p.) and lithotomy position (1.5 p.p.) was observed; the rate of adoption of the upright or squatting position presented a statistical increase of 2.2 p.p. CONCLUSIONS: there was a positive impact of the educational intervention on the improvement of parturition assistance, but the implementation process was not completely successful in the adoption of scientific evidence in normal delivery care in this institution.