Overview

The OBS UK study implemented the ‘OBS UK care bundle‘ across 40 maternity units in the UK, aiming to improve care for approximately 189,000 women and birthing people. The care bundle strengthened NHS practice by adding risk assessments, real-time blood loss measurement, senior clinical involvement, and a bedside clotting test to standard care.

Egality supported the study by developing inclusive communication materials and providing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I) expertise through engagement with diverse ethnic communities and LGBTQIA+ groups. We consulted with people from marginalised backgrounds to understand perceived risks during childbirth and explored ways healthcare professionals could address these concerns through inclusive communication and culturally sensitive practice.

This engagement helped ensure the study was responsive to the needs and experiences of diverse populations and supported more informed, person-centred participation.

Want to know more about the OBS UK trial? Watch our video below or go to the OBS UK website.

Outputs

Egality worked with community partners and the study team to deliver:

• Two workshops with women from marginalised ethnic backgrounds and one workshop with the LGBTQIA+ community to gather insights on communication needs, concerns, and expectations
• A collaborative film with community partners introducing the study, hosted on the OBS UK website
• A culturally sensitive and inclusive script to support onsite researchers when recruiting participants into sub-studies
• An ED&I handbook providing guidance on systemic bias and inclusive behaviours, and culturally aware communication
• Inclusive artwork for the study website, reflecting diverse identities and experiences
• An infographic version of the Patient Information Sheet (PIS) to support more accessible and user-friendly communication

Outcomes

The engagement and communications work delivered through this project resulted in:

• Improved clarity and accessibility of study information for women and birthing people from diverse ethnic and LGBTQIA+ communities
• Greater cultural sensitivity in the study’s recruitment approach, supported by tailored scripts, visuals, and materials informed directly by community insights
• Enhanced confidence among researchers in communicating inclusively, supported by the ED&I handbook and guidance on addressing systemic bias
• More representative and inclusive study materials, increasing the likelihood that the OBS UK trial is understood and trusted by a broader range of participants
• Strengthened relationships with community partners, supporting future collaboration and more equitable engagement across maternal health research

Together, these outcomes reflected how inclusive, community-informed communication strengthened the relevance and accessibility of the OBS UK study for diverse populations.