RecruitingInterventional

Use of forum theatre in service design and patient decision aids

This study is about making maternity services better, especially when it comes to helping people decide about their birth plan. Sometimes, these decisions can be hard because there's lots of information or not enough time. We're testing if a method called 'forum theatre' can help. This involves acting out scenes to show how services could be improved. We're inviting adults with experience in maternity care, like past patients, healthcare staff, and managers, to join group sessions. You'll help design a new service, and some groups will watch a short play first. The goal is to make sure everyone feels supported when making big choices during pregnancy. You can withdraw at any time.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Birmingham

Enrolment target

Start

13 Mar 2026

Estimated completion

01 Jul 2026

Decision-making in maternity care, specifically informed choice for birth planning (e.g. large-for-gestational-age pregnancies), and optimisation of healthcare service design using forum theatre

What is this study about?

Imagine you're expecting a baby and need to make important decisions about your birth, like if your baby is expected to be larger than average. This can feel overwhelming, with lots of information to take in and not much time. This study wants to find new ways to make these decisions easier and improve the services that support you.

We're looking at a special method called 'forum theatre'. This isn't like going to a regular play; it's more interactive. The idea is to use short, acted-out scenes to show real-life situations in maternity care. By watching and discussing these scenarios, we hope to get better ideas for how to design services that genuinely help people make informed choices about their birth plans.

Ultimately, this research aims to make sure that people using maternity services feel more confident, understand their choices better, and get the support they need. By involving people who have direct experience – both those who have used maternity services and those who work in them – we can create services that are truly helpful and patient-friendly.

Key takeaways

Help design better maternity services.
Share your experiences to improve patient decisions.
Involves a single group discussion session.
Some groups will watch a short interactive play.
Open to past patients, healthcare staff, and managers.
Your input could make a real difference.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be an adult, aged 18 or older. We're specifically looking for people who can share their experiences and ideas about maternity care.

You might be eligible if you've previously used maternity services (but you can't be pregnant right now). We're also keen to hear from healthcare professionals, like midwives or doctors, who work in maternity care, or managers who help design these services. You'll need to be able to join in with group discussions in English.

However, if you're currently pregnant, unable to understand what the study involves, are going through a difficult time emotionally, or find it hard to participate in group discussions, this study might not be suitable for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you used maternity services in the past (but are not currently pregnant)? OR Are you a healthcare professional or manager involved in maternity care?
Can you comfortably take part in a group discussion in English?
Are you able to agree to take part in the study?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll be invited to a single group session. This session will involve working with others to design a maternity care service. Some groups will first watch a short, acted-out scene about a patient and a doctor talking, and you might get to interact with it. Other groups will go straight into the design task without watching the scene.

All your discussions during the session will be recorded so that the researchers can analyse everyone's ideas. There are no medications involved, no follow-up appointments after your session, and your involvement will only be for this one group session.

Potential risks and benefits

By taking part, you could help improve maternity care for many people and gain a better understanding of how decisions are made in healthcare. The risks are very small, but you might feel a little uncomfortable if personal or sensitive experiences come up during discussions. Please remember, you can stop being part of the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Birmingham
Unverified
Birmingham, England

Common questions

What is 'forum theatre'?

It's a special type of theatre where short scenes are acted out, and the audience can get involved to explore different ways to solve problems or improve situations, like in healthcare.

Do I need any theatre experience to take part?

No, absolutely not! You just need to be willing to share your experiences and ideas related to maternity care. You won't be expected to act yourself.

How long will my involvement in the study last?

You'll only need to attend a single group session. There are no ongoing commitments after that.

Will my personal stories be shared publicly?

No, any discussions will be recorded for analysis by the researchers, but your personal stories will be kept private and anonymous in any reports. Your identity will not be shared.

Can I still join if I had my baby a while ago?

Yes, as long as you're not currently pregnant and are aged 18 or over. Your past experiences are very valuable to this study.

How to find out more

Saba Tariq

s.tariq@bham.ac.uk +44 (0)7459525748 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.