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Research and evaluation

NCT has a long tradition of user involvement in setting the research agenda, influencing research questions, participation in collaborative research, research on parents’ experiences and needs, critiquing research and reviews of evidence, and disseminating and using research.

We believe that the services and information for parents should be responsive to parents needs and preferences, work towards promoting public health and well-being, and help to provide a positive start in life for children. For this to be possible, it is necessary for them to be able to draw upon high quality evidence from both quantitative and qualitative research.  

NCT informs and supports all parents through its services. With access to evidence and informed information together with an opportunity to discuss opinions, we hope they will feel empowered to make decisions that are right for them and their babies.

 Current collaborative research projects

  • NCT works with academic, professional and voluntary bodies to represent parents' views and interests during the investigation of different aspects of maternity and parenthood. Current projects include:
  • POPPY – The parents of premature babies project (http://www.poppy-project.org.uk/)
  • Birthplace - an integrated programme of research designed to compare outcomes of births planned at home, in different types of midwifery units, and in hospital units with obstetric services. (http://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/birthplace/)
  • PEARLS - Perineal Assessment and Repair Longitudinal Study - a national quality improvement initiative to improve the assessment and immediate, short and long term management of perineal trauma.

  • INFANT - a multicentre randomised controlled trial of an intelligent system to support decision making in the management of labour using the cardiotocogram. (http://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/infant)  Rachel Plachinski, NCT antenatal teacher and REN, and Mary Newburn, Head of Research and Information, represent the NCT on INFANT, see their account of the study.

  • BUMPES-is a multi-centre randomised controlled trial to compare the effect of birthing position in nulliparous women with a working mobile epidural in situ. (http://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/bumpes)