Abstract

A Study to Determine the Efficacy of Colored Coded Clinical Proformas for Documentation in Obstetric Emergencies

Author(s): Dr Tracy Roake, RN Brenda Flynn, Dr Faiza Aiman, RN Joyce Calubayan, RM Najat Ould Hadj

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Color Coded Clinical Proformas (CCCP) for documentation purposes in obstetric emergencies. This study was conducted by Primary Investigator Tracy Roake, Doctor of Business Administration, Registered Nurse and Midwife who performs the role of Head of Education and Student Affairs. The secondary investigators are Clinical Auditor - Faiza Aiman, Nursing Supervisor - Joyce Calubayan, Acting Assistant Chief Nursing Officer - Najat Ould Hadj and Chief Nursing Officer - Brenda Flynn. The study was conducted in a single center healthcare facility which operates as a Joint Commission International Association (JCIA), and Centre of Excellence accredited private women’s and children’s hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study centre is a certified Research Centre, approved to perform Human Research by Department of Health (DoH), Abu Dhabi, and UAE. The problem that this study aims to highlight is that historically there are variations in obstetric emergencies documentation. While accurate and precise documentation is not usual for some, this study confirms that obstetric emergency documentation was questionable in terms of not being concise and standardised as a whole. The dependent variable in this study is: Documentation The independent variables consist of four processes which include: Compliance with the use of correct proformas, this audit tool was used to collect the data at ease. The analysis helped develop the hypothesis results and extrapolate the research answers. The Excel statistical tool box was utilized by performing the one tail t-test which tested two variables per research question, this was analysed to obtain the p-values. An online eLearning module assessment was employed to assist clinicians in obtaining knowledge regarding CCCP, the results were used to analyse if knowledge transfer occurred. The results also assisted in formulating a plan to update clinicians on their areas of weakness and to provide further recommendation in improving documentation at obstetric emergencies. The process used for tracking the proformas is reiterated in all of the study centers clinical emergency code policies. The system is a simple process in that at the time of the emergency, the scribe should document all the correct information on the proforma, once completed, a photocopy of the proforma is given to the Nursing Supervisor and then delivered to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for a hand over of the event. Once the CNO has reviewed the proforma it is handed to the deputy chair for the resuscitation committee to review so that further discussions can be made in the resuscitation committee meetings.