Australian maternity healthcare professionals’ knowledge, attitudes and practices relevant to cord blood banking, donation and clamp timing: A cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Problem: Australian health professionals’ knowledge and attitudes towards third stage labour options of cord clamp timing, cord blood banking and donation and their practice of informing parents of these options is unknown. Background: Parents have several options for the management of their infant’ cord blood during the third stage of labour. Early or deferred cord clamping practices may affect parent choices about physiological transfusion to the neonate and/or cord blood collection for private or public banking or donation. Aim: To identify health professionals’ knowledge and attitudes towards third stage labour options of cord clamp timing, cord blood banking and donation and their practice of informing parents of these options. Methods: A total of 129 Australian maternity healthcare professionals responded to the self-administered survey between December 2017 and June 2018. Findings: Occupational differences were revealed in regard to cord clamp timing, cord blood banking and donation knowledge, attitudes and practices. Midwives were more likely to discuss cord clamp timing with parents and to clamp the cord later than obstetricians. Obstetricians were more knowledgeable of cord blood banking and donation options than midwives. Cord blood banking and donation options were discussed by both groups if parents asked. Discussion: Identification of gaps in knowledge should guide future maternity health professional education that is inclusive of all third stage labour options to ensure that open discussion and informing parents of options is consistent, contemporary and evidence-based. Conclusion: To make informed decisions, parents need evidence-based information on all third stage labour options.