Interpretation
The next challenge is to address poor outcome reporting by developing a
core outcome set for planned mode of birth. By selecting key outcomes
from a core outcome set and using appropriate outcome measures, future
studies can reduce inconsistency for outcome reporting, and can thereby
improve clinical usefulness of studies 8. Core outcome
sets may be developed with use of the modified Delphi survey where key
stakeholders including patients are involved in selecting important
reporting outcomes, followed by consensus discussions8, 23. The Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness
Trials (COMET) initiative advocate for patient and public involvement in
the development of core outcome sets because their contribution towards
the understanding of important outcomes is essential in the development
of patient-centred core outcome sets 9. The
development of core outcome sets is supported by Cochrane Reviews of the
effects of healthcare interventions and by the World Health Organisation
(WHO) in developing guideline recommendations 7.
Across women’s health, several core outcome sets, including
pre-eclampsia, endometriosis and infertility, have been developed12, 23, 26, 27. The successful implementation of a
core outcome set for rheumatoid arthritis has been shown to improve
harmonisation of research by establishing outcomes that are now more
frequently measured by researchers 24.
This study demonstrates that the reporting outcomes for planned mode of
birth is inconsistent and requires standardisation. There is no
internationally agreed selection of outcomes for studies evaluating
planned mode of birth. Future trials should select the primary outcome
from the core outcome set alongside other outcomes. This will improve
possibility of comparing and combining outcomes from different studies
for meta-analyses and will reduce reporting bias 28.