Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Research Network on Pregnancy-Related Care Program

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This announcement solicits applications for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Research Network on Pregnancy-Related Care Program (PRCRN). The PRCRN conducts multi-site research on critical issues affecting pregnancy-related and maternal health across the lifespan, examines the practice patterns and educational needs of obstetricians and gynecologists nationwide to improve the quality of health care for mothers and children, and facilitates the translation of research to practice by leveraging the network infrastructure to educate providers and influence the standard of care.  Specific aims/objectives/deliverables: ·         Advance the knowledge-base about the health of women, including but not limited to pregnancy, preconception, and inter-conception care; ·         Maintain and expand membership of a network of obstetric providers to conduct office-based research, or research in office settings; ·         Develop evidence-based guidelines for use in practice settings; ·         Leverage research funding for Network studies; ·         Enhance the development of new investigators; ·         Disseminate research findings and activities to advance the field; and ·         Foster the translation of new knowledge into practice settings and communities. Translate this knowledge into policy that promotes the implementation of evidence-based practices.  Methods/activities: Facilitate the interaction of health care professionals, researchers, and policy analysts to study critical issues in maternal and child health; o   Reach out to obstetric providers (family physicians, nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, etc.) in diverse settings (community health centers, public health departments, etc.) to broaden the scope of the Network; ·         Assess the opinions, knowledge, clinical practices, and educational needs of obstetrician-gynecologists regarding areas of clinical medicine relevant to maternal and child health; o   Develop a provider survey of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around maternal and child health Affordable Care Act-related issues, such as clinical preventive services for women; ·         Conduct office-based research studies; ·         Maintain and recruit providers to participate in the Network; ·         Assess the efficacy of clinical practice guidelines in terms of dissemination and utilization; ·         Inform continued medical education efforts that are influenced by the results of PRCRN studies;  ·         Disseminate results of the PRCRN studies broadly through peer-reviewed publications; and ·         Advance clinical science and accelerate the translation of research to practice.

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