Effect of antenatal education in small classes versus standard auditorium-based lectures on use of pain relief during labour and of obstetric interventions: results from the randomised NEWBORN trial.
To examine the effect of an antenatal education programme in small classes versus standard auditorium-based lectures.



Randomised trial using random-generated web-based 1:1 allocation.



The largest birth site in the Capital Region of Denmark, from August 2012 to May 2014.



1766 pregnant women. Inclusion criteria ≥18 years, pregnant with a single child, and able to speak and understand Danish. Women were enrolled in the trial from 10+0 to 20+0 weeks of gestation.



The intervention programme consisted of three times 2.5 hours of antenatal education in small classes (n=6-8 women), and focused on improving information and problem-solving skills for expectant parents in order to ease birth and the transition to parenthood. The control group received standard auditorium-based lectures consisting of two times 2 hours in an auditorium with participation of ∼250 people.



The primary trial outcome was use of epidural analgesia. Other types of pain relief and obstetric interventions were analysed as explorative outcomes.



There was no statistically significant difference in use of epidural analgesia between participants in the intervention group (30.9%) versus the control group (29.1%), adjusted OR 1.10 (95% CI 0.87 to 1.34). Also, the two groups did not differ regarding other types of pain relief or obstetric interventions. Concomitant birth preparation was common in both groups and highest in the control group, but did not seem to influence our results noticeably.



Antenatal education in small groups versus standard auditorium-based lectures did not differ regarding use of epidural analgesia, other pain relief, or obstetric interventions.



NCT01672437; Results.
National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Carina Sjöberg
CS
Brixval
National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Lau Caspar
LC
Thygesen
National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Solveig Forberg
SF
Axelsen
Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Christian
C
Gluud
Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Per
P
Winkel
Copenhagen Trial Unit, Centre for Clinical Intervention Research, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jane
J
Lindschou
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark.
Tom
T
Weber
National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Pernille
P
Due
National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Vibeke
V
Koushede
D000328:Adult; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000187:drug effects; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D059408:Pain Management; D011247:Pregnancy; D064186:Prenatal Education / Q000379:methods*
Antenatal education; EPIDEMIOLOGY; OBSTETRICS; PUBLIC HEALTH