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Dear Mary It seems odd that there are two articles on the same topic, published on the same date, on the RCM website. May I suggest that the article written by Hollie Ewers, with the unfortunate phrase “offers only a marginal drop”, is removed? Gillian Meldrum On Fri, 12 Oct 2018 at 11:56, Mary Ross-Davie <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Dear Christine and other Jiscmail members > I just wanted to write in response to comments about the RCM response to > the AFFIRM trial. > I was the lead author for the RCM for our response, with support from the > wider RCM professional team. I was concerned to read that you felt that > our response was unclear. > We were keen to ensure that we responded quickly to the publication of the > study in the Lancet and produced this statement within 24 hours of its > publication as we know this is a very important topic for many of our > members and for the maternity community. > I think it is natural that the level of detail that we include in an > immediate response statement for the media and our members is less than the > publishing academic journal. > The first line in the statement where we describe the results is this: > ‘ The results of the study are clear: the package of care did not lead to > a statistically significant reduction in the number of stillbirths and led > to a significant increase in medical interventions including induction of > labour and caesarean section’. > We go on to say this: > ‘The AFFIRM trial, with its negative result, has made an important > contribution to our current knowledge. Further research into this > important topic is always needed’ and then this…’The risks posed by > increased interventions need to be balanced by their potential benefits. > This study did not demonstrate that the interventions tested provide the > benefits sought in relation to reducing stillbirth or perinatal mortality’. > In our statement we do not talk about any ‘marginal benefits’, which is > the description used by the authors. It appears that the article you have > read and link to in your email Christine is a brief article written by one > of the journalists who writes for Midwives magazine, who is quoting from > the study authors in her article. This article is the journalist's take on > the study. > Our official RCM response and statement can be read in full here: > https://www.rcm.org.uk/news-views-and-analysis/news/rcm-response-to-the-publication-of-the-affirm-trial-in-the-lancet > > We have received some direct positive feedback about our response from a > number of midwives, they have felt that it provides clarity for them in > responding to the results of the AFFIRM trial. The RCM will be involved in > ongoing discussions and work in shaping how maternity services in the UK > can best respond to the findings of this trial. > I am happy to discuss this further through email, > > Best wishes > Mary > > ######################################################################## > > To unsubscribe from the MIDWIFERY-RESEARCH list, click the following link: > https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MIDWIFERY-RESEARCH&A=1 > ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the MIDWIFERY-RESEARCH list, click the following link: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MIDWIFERY-RESEARCH&A=1