Psychological Liaison Counseling in Obstetric Inpatients: Determination of Demand and Outcomes.

Completed Research Project

Title / Titel: Psychological Liaison Counseling in Obstetric Inpatients: Determination of Demand and Outcomes.

Original title / Originaltitel: Evaluation von Nachfrage und Erfolgskriterien des konsiliarpsychologischen Dienstes an der Abteilung für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe am Unispital Zürich

Summary / Zusammenfassung: Purpose of the Study: Despite considerable improvements in medical care in the fields of gynecology and obstetrics, still surprisingly little is known about the determinants of preterm birth and its successful prevention. In Western countries, approximately 11% to 12% of all births occur preterm, with major economic and psychosocial impact for affected families. The impact of psychosocial factors on preterm birth is still discussed in the literature, and consequently, among other treatment options, psychological counseling (PC) is offered to some women in addition to medical treatment for preterm birth. However, not all women ask for and receive PC, and among those who do, the concepts of treatment vary. We sought to determine predictors of demand of psychological interventions in obstetric inpatients, standard interventions in those women who received treatment, and determinants of successful treatment.
Methods: In the years between 2002 and 2007, 286 inpatients who were treated in the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Obstetrics, received PC. About 2/3 of these patients received medical treatment in order to prevent preterm birth and attended M = 1.2 sessions. Medical records and psychological treatment protocols of all these patients are analyzed with regard to medical information (duration of pregnancy, medical diagnosis, medical treatment), number of PC sessions, PC treatment rationale, and PC methods. If available, duration of pregnancy at birth, birth weight and APGAR scores are analyzed as variables indicating treatment success.

Keywords / Suchbegriffe: Purpose of the Study: Despite considerable improvements in medical care in the fields of gynecology and obstetrics, still surprisingly little is known about the determinants of preterm birth and its successful prevention. In Western countries, approximately 11% to 12% of all births occur preterm, with major economic and psychosocial impact for affected families. The impact of psychosocial factors on preterm birth is still discussed in the literature, and consequently, among other treatment options, psychological counseling (PC) is offered to some women in addition to medical treatment for preterm birth. However, not all women ask for and receive PC, and among those who do, the concepts of treatment vary. We sought to determine predictors of demand of psychological interventions in obstetric inpatients, standard interventions in those women who received treatment, and determinants of successful treatment., Methods: In the years between 2002 and 2007, 286 inpatients who were treated in the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Obstetrics, received PC. About 2/3 of these patients received medical treatment in order to prevent preterm birth and attended M = 1.2 sessions. Medical records and psychological treatment protocols of all these patients are analyzed with regard to medical information (duration of pregnancy, medical diagnosis, medical treatment), number of PC sessions, PC treatment rationale, and PC methods. If available, duration of pregnancy at birth, birth weight and APGAR scores are analyzed as variables indicating treatment success.

Project Leadership and Contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte

Dr. Beate Ditzen, PhD (Project Leader)	b.ditzen@psychologie.uzh.ch
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ehlert, PhD	u.ehlert@psychologie.uzh.ch

Funding Source(s) / Unterstützt durch: No project-specific funding

Duration of Project / Projektdauer: Jan 2008 to Jan 2009