Planning for scale: analysis of adaptations and contextual factors influencing scale-up of the QUALI-DEC intervention to optimize caesarean section use

TL;DR

This study analyzed factors affecting the scale-up of the QUALI-DEC intervention to improve appropriate caesarean section use across multiple countries.

Contribution

The study provides insights into scalability factors and early adaptations for implementing the QUALI-DEC intervention.

Findings

Perceived relevance and existing clinical guidelines support scalability of the intervention.

Labour companionship and decision-analysis tools require structural changes for scale-up.

High workload and legal disputes were identified as barriers in most facilities.

Abstract

Researchers are encouraged to plan for scale through purposeful and guided assessment of scalability of an intervention. This study analysed factors potentially influencing scale-up and synthesised early adaptations of the QUALI-DEC intervention aiming to improve the appropriate use of caesarean section. The intervention consists of opinion leader engagement, audit and feedback for caesarean section, a tool to help women make an informed decision on the mode of birth, and labour companionship.

We conducted a framework analysis, which was guided by the scalability assessment framework by Zamboni et al., a 34-item checklist with a three-point scale. We used data from the formative research including a document review, hospital readiness assessment and qualitative interviews conducted between March 2019 and May 2020 in 32 facilities across Argentina, Burkina Faso, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Data were deductively coded based on the four dimensions of the scalability framework. Our findings were validated with implementing partners across countries.

We identified the perceived relevance of the intervention by women and providers and the presence of relevant key clinical guidelines as factors that may ease scalability of QUALI-DEC. Labour companionship and the decision-analysis tool were perceived as harder to scale-up and requiring additional changes to existing healthcare structures. Most of the study facilities reported high workload and time constraints as implementation barriers. Thailand was the only country with a national policy to reduce unnecessary caesarean sections. Legal disputes were common and followed a structured process in Thailand and Argentina, which may support preference of caesarean section due to fear of litigation. Early adaptations included development, revision and translation of educational material, monetary compensation of opinion leaders and reaching consensus on clinical guidelines to be used across hospitals, most of which are deemed conducive to scale up.

Planning for scale-up is a key feature of the QUALI-DEC intervention. Scale-up may not be guaranteed at this point of the intervention since effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are not demonstrated yet. However, the investment in studying scale-up opportunities is a core contribution to implementation research. This exercise informed implementation and scale-up strategies of the QUALI-DEC intervention.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43058-025-00737-6.

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