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.