Research

The NCT believes in informing and supporting all parents so that they are aware of the full range of options and are empowered to make decisions that are right for them. And we believe that the services and information for parents should be based on the best available evidence, which draws from both quantitative and qualitative research.

The priorities for 2007-2008 are to

• plan and implement a programme of research (secondary and or primary research) on the needs and experiences and views of parents during the transition to parenthood
• provide research information to underpin the development of the new NCT strategy and inform service provision and campaigns
• develop the research capacity in the policy research department to enable primary research to be carried out, particularly on postnatal care and support issues;
• develop a strategic bid for funding to extend the NCT’s research capacity;
• set up a Policy Research Advisory Group, as outlined in the NCT Governance review and contribute to the strategic development of the charity as set out in the NCT Governance Review.
• establish systems for monitoring and evaluating the services the NCT provides for parents, including the Pregnancy and Birth and Baby Feeding telephone support lines.

Structured approach to research

We have a long tradition of user involvement in setting the research agenda, influencing research questions, participation in collaborative research, research on parents’ experiences and needs, critiquing research and reviews of evidence, and disseminating and using research.

In 2008 the NCT will establish a new Policy Research Advisory Group and a Research Ethics Committee to guide our research work. In 2007 we adopted an Ethical Research Code and Checklist for use by researchers working for the NCT to address quality assurance issues.

NCT-led research projects

Current research projects include:

• The Baby sleeping project which involves a literature review and survey of new parents’ experiences and views of baby sleeping.

Collaborative research

We work with several research, academic, professional and voluntary bodies to investigate different aspects of maternity and parenthood, including:

• POPPY – The parents of premature babies project (www.poppy-project.org.uk)
• Birthplace - an integrated programme of research designed to compare outcomes of births planned at home, in different types of midwifery units, and in hospital units with obstetric services. (www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace)
• PEARLS - Perineal Assessment and Repair Longitudinal Study - a national quality improvement initiative to improve the assessment and immediate, short and long term management of perineal trauma.

We also have representation on the following:

• Board of the National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health (NCC - WCH)
• Advisory group for the King’s College London Project Supporting women to have a normal birth: development and field testing of a training package for maternity staff
• Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group Consumer Panel which provides feedback on systematic reviews of healthcare interventions relating to pregnancy and childbirth for publication in The Cochrane Library to ensure that they reflect the needs and concerns of childbearing women and their families.
• National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment (NCCHTA)
• Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme User Involvement Steering Group
• National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) Advisory Group.
• National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) Steering Committee of the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) to undertake national epidemiological surveillance of uncommon disorders of pregnancy (CC).
• National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) Steering Committee of the International CAESAR Trial Steering Committee comparing aspects of the surgical techniques used at caesarean section (DCD).
• National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) Steering Committee of the Coronis Trial on surgical caesarean techniques (DCD).
• NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Datasets Service National Maternity Dataset Development Project (England) Reference Group. (MD)
• Pearls Study (perineal assessment and repair) Advisory Group (JO).
• University of York Mother and Infant Research Unit (MIRU) Advisory group for an evidence synthesis on breastfeeding promotion in special care baby units and neonatal intensive care units (SCBU/NICU).

Other research work

Critiquing research

We comment critically on research methodologies, findings and conclusions, particularly from a user perspective or a perspective of valuing normal physiological processes.

• The NCT has contributed to the development of many NICE guidelines including Antenatal Care, Postnatal Care, Intrapartum Care, Caesarean Section, Electronic Fetal Monitoring.
• The NCT has provided input into policy and research documents form the professional royal colleges, such as the RCOG green-top guidance.

Using research to support lobbying and campaigning

The NCT has used research finding to support our lobbying and campaigning work to improve birth environments, improve support for breastfeeding, promote normal birth and reduce unnecessarily high caesarean section rates.

Reviewing and disseminating published research

We produce and publish four evidence-based briefings each year in our professional journal, New Digest, along with other articles drawing on research and maternity statistics.

Training for NCT workers

We provide regular training and support to NCT workers on finding, appraising and using research, including:

• CASP – critical appraisal skills training
• VOICES - facilitation and/or training for maternity services liaison committees (multi-disciplinary or user reps only)
• DISCERN - training to enable service users to appraise the quality of written ‘patient’ information provided by the health service.
• Healthcare on the Internet training for NCT workers.

Current awareness services

We provide a range of services to disseminate information to NCT workers and people working within maternity and with parents, including:

• New Digest – our quarterly professional journal which includes a roundup of recent research
• A weekly current awareness service which includes abstracts of newly published research studies
• NCT Maternity and Parenthood Directory which lists good sources of up-to-date evidence-based information

Maternity research opportunities

There are many opportunites for NCT members to get involved in our work to ensure that information for parents is reliable, up-to-date, and based on good evidence. 

Funding

We actively seek funding from suitable bodies to support our research work.