A  quality improvement project led by Monash medical student Mia Komesaroff analysed data from 3,206 elective Caesarean section births to find out what factors affected low Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration (APGAR) scores which are used to assess the wellbeing of newborns in the critical minutes following delivery.

The project aimed to find out what factors can be changed in maternal, foetal and obstetric care prior to birth to improve low APGAR scores, which are measured one and five minutes after birth. The findings from the project will be used to enhance obstetric practices at Bendigo Health.

Mia Komesaroff completed her quality improvement audit at Bendigo Health, as part of her Scholarly Intensive Placement (SIP), which gives final-year medical students the chance to gain important professional skills in research, analysis and communication during a six-week placement. Mia found her SIP to be a challenging, but rewarding experience.

“Having never dealt with a large database before, I was confronted with the challenge of using Excel to clean, filter and eventually analyse the data. Though this process was intellectually and mentally challenging, the satisfaction gained through obtaining meaningful and informative results made it all worthwhile. To contribute findings that may have real-world implications for patients and future research was a particularly exciting aspect of this project.”

Undertaking this project has given Mia a desire to expand on her experience and seek opportunities to further engage in research and contribute towards evidence-based practice.

“As I near the end of my medical degree, I hope to become a practitioner that blends compassionate patient-centred care with innovation and research.”

Mia was grateful for the guidance of her supervisor, Dr Robin Burr, whose expertise and feedback were instrumental throughout the project.

“I am also grateful to Associate Professor Bernadette Ward, whose helpful feedback allowed me to refine the final project. Their support provided me with the confidence to navigate the challenges of the project.”

Mia offers some helpful advice for students preparing to do their SIP with Monash Rural Health.

“Though the SIP might feel daunting at first, it offers a rare opportunity to develop critical research skills and contribute to the medical field of research. The SIP allows you to challenge yourself in ways that foster both personal and professional growth, all while being supported by experienced supervisors.”