Bridging the gap in pre-eclampsia research through evidence surveillance

Open to students

Among mothers and their babies, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (notably, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia) are a significant cause of severe morbidity, long-term disability and death. Worldwide, they account for approximately 14% of all maternal deaths.

Guidelines developed by the World Health Organization support healthcare providers in the prevention, early diagnosis, management and treatment of pre-eclampsia. Ultimately, this enhances the quality of care delivered to pregnant women.

Ongoing evidence surveillance on pre-eclampsia plays a critical role in informing the development and updating of these guidelines.

Student opportunities

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Identify evidence gaps

This PhD project will use systematic review methods. The aim is to identify current evidence gaps relating to the prevention, screening, diagnosis, management and treatment of pre-eclampsia.

The project can explore one or more of the following questions:

What are the most effective strategies for optimising pre-eclampsia risk screening and diagnosis in health care settings?
What are the main outcomes that women (and their families) value in relation to interventions for prevention and management of pre-eclampsia?
How can blood pressure measurement be optimised for managing pre-eclampsia?
What are the most cost-effective interventions for pre-eclampsia prevention and treatment?

Impact

Continuously monitoring emerging data will ensure that clinical recommendations remain current, evidence-based and relevant.

By supporting informed clinical practice, evidence surveillance contributes to reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. This then improves health outcomes for mothers and their babies.