OBS - Obstetric Bleeding Strategy

OBS UK Care Bundle - Created during the previous OBS Study and implemented across Wales in the OBS Cymru programme launched in Wales in 2016. The OBS UK care bundle was created to address the lack of knowledge in treating excess bleeding after childbirth, to improve and standardise maternity care and address racial disparities. It introduced a process for identifying those who are at high risk of bleeding, methods for early recognition and treatment of abnormal bleeding, and the identification of and early intervention for abnormalities in blood clotting.

Anonymised - All identifying information, for example, name, age, dates, is removed from the data so that no one can be identified.

Cluster Randomised - Groups are randomised rather than individuals. In the OBS study hospitals are randomised, so everyone giving birth at that hospital will receive either standard usual care or the OBS care bundle.

Implementation Period - Each hospital will have a 9 month period where OBS Care is used, this can then be compared to standard care.

Psychological and Economic Sub Study - Two smaller studies are running within the main OBS study. One is looking at the psychological impact of post partum bleeding on the mother or birthing person and their birth partner and one is looking at the economic impact of post partum bleeding on the mother or birthing person and their partner (this is focused on their economic partner who may not necessarily be the person present at the birth).

Process evaluation - This will also be running alongside the main study, this will determine whether the OBS care is being implemented as intended.

Routine Data - Routine data are collected by hospitals, schools, police, government departments (and many more places) for the purposes of registration, transaction and record keeping to enable the delivery of that service. OBS UK will be looking at specific hospital data to help inform the outcomes of the study.

Sample Size- The number of participants needed in the study to make sure it is possible to draw accurate conclusions