title: Barriers to deferred cord clamping in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the range of practices employed by units conducting deferred cord clamping at very preterm birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using semistructured interviews with neonatal doctors, nurses, midwives, obstetricians and managers in a sample of UK maternity units.
  
  
  METHODS
  33 neonatal doctors, neonatal nurses, midwives, obstetricians and managers.
  
  
  METHODS
  UK maternity units in 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four key themes emerged. The first concerns the variation in guideline content, the absence of a practice of stabilisation with cord intact, and issues with implementing and maintaining changes in practice. The second concerns the challenges in assessing eligibility. The third concerns the competing priorities of delivering the intervention and proceeding with other stabilisation manoeuvres and the associated anxiety experienced by professionals. The final theme relates to the issue of uncertainty as to optimal treatment choices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence surrounding deferred cord clamping in very preterm infants is unclear. This study describes the reported practice of units deferring cord clamping in 2012 and will inform trial development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bradford Neonatology, Ward M1, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oddie
authors.affiliation: Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, UK.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rhodes
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003250:Constriction; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D062071:Infant, Extremely Premature; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000098:blood supply*
keywords: Neonatology; Qualitative Research; Resuscitation