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The Maternity Care Classification System – A validated system for classifying models of care
Introduction: Evidence has shown differences in outcomes under midwife-led continuity of care models, however populationlevel studies are inhibited without a standardised system to classify models of maternity care. The Australian Department of Health funded the development of the Maternity Care Classification System (MaCCS); a world-first system to facilitate meaningful analysis of maternal and perinatal outcomes under different models of care.
Aim: An independent validation study of the MaCCS was undertaken in public maternity services in New South Wales. The study’s aims included to: – examine the variation in maternity models of care, to demonstrate the need for a classification system based on model characteristics rather than model names; and – assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the MaCCS for classifying models of care.
Methods: All public maternity services in NSW were invited to classify two models of care at their facility using the MaCCS and classify three randomly allocated case studies, the latter being repeated again 2–4 weeks later. Ethical approval was received from South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee.
Results: The study demonstrated significant variation in how models of care are structured. The MaCCS identified the heterogeneity within model categories including variation in characteristics known to influence outcomes. The results showed that on all available measures of validity–accuracy, reproducibility and repeatability–the MaCCS is a valid system for classifying models of maternity care based on their characteristics.
Conclusion and implications: Defining and classifying models of care accurately requires a system that recognises and accounts for the heterogeneity of models of care of the same type. The MaCCS defines models of care accurately, enabling evaluation of the influence that different models of maternity care have on outcomes for women and babies to be embedded within the healthcare system–‘the truth is out there’!
History
Publication title
Women and BirthVolume
30(S1)Pagination
11ISSN
1871-5192Department/School
TSBEPublisher
Elsevier BVPlace of publication
NetherlandsEvent title
Australian College of Midwives National ConferenceEvent Venue
Adelaide, South AustraliaDate of Event (Start Date)
2017-10-30Date of Event (End Date)
2017-11-02Repository Status
- Restricted