Doula Certification Evidence-Based Practices and Research 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'evidence-based practice' mean in doula care?
- Using only what the client requests without research context
- Integrating the best available research with professional expertise and client values (Correct answer)
- Following only traditional practices without considering new research
- Implementing hospital protocols only
Correct answer: Integrating the best available research with professional expertise and client values
Evidence-based practice means using the best available research, combined with professional expertise and client preferences, to guide care and recommendations.
Question 2: Which major research review finding supports the value of doula care?
- Doula support has no measurable effect on birth outcomes
- Continuous labor support reduces cesarean rates and pain medication use (Correct answer)
- Doula support consistently increases labor duration
- Doulas are most effective only in out-of-hospital settings
Correct answer: Continuous labor support reduces cesarean rates and pain medication use
Cochrane systematic reviews have consistently found that continuous labor support reduces cesarean births, shortens labor, and reduces analgesia use.
Question 3: What does RCT stand for in research methodology?
- Random Clinical Testing
- Randomized Controlled Trial (Correct answer)
- Registered Care Training
- Routine Clinical Task
Correct answer: Randomized Controlled Trial
A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) randomly assigns participants to treatment or control groups to rigorously test the effect of an intervention.
Question 4: What is the 'cascade of interventions' in obstetrics?
- A waterfall feature in birth centers
- One obstetric intervention leading to the need for additional interventions (Correct answer)
- A medication administration protocol
- A continuous electronic fetal monitoring system
Correct answer: One obstetric intervention leading to the need for additional interventions
The cascade of interventions describes how one obstetric intervention (like Pitocin augmentation) can lead to a chain of additional interventions (epidural, then cesarean).
Question 5: What is intermittent auscultation (IA) in labor monitoring?
- A method used to induce labor
- Monitoring fetal heart rate at intervals as an alternative to continuous EFM (Correct answer)
- A technique to measure cervical dilation
- Assessment of uterine contractions only
Correct answer: Monitoring fetal heart rate at intervals as an alternative to continuous EFM
Intermittent auscultation uses a Doppler or fetoscope to check fetal heart rate periodically and is evidence-supported for low-risk labors.
Question 6: What is the WHO's position on optimal cesarean rates at the population level?
- A 50% cesarean rate is optimal for safety
- Cesarean rates above 10-15% do not improve maternal or neonatal outcomes at the population level (Correct answer)
- All first-time mothers should plan cesarean births
- Cesarean rates should be determined solely by individual hospital policies
Correct answer: Cesarean rates above 10-15% do not improve maternal or neonatal outcomes at the population level
The WHO states that cesarean rates above 10-15% are not associated with reduced maternal and neonatal mortality at the population level.
Doula Certification Evidence-Based Practices and Research 1
What does 'evidence-based practice' mean in doula care?