Professor KATE WALKER's Outputs (61)

Association of gestational day with antenatal management and the mortality and respiratory outcomes of extremely preterm infants (2025)
Journal Article
Kwok, T. C., Fiolna, M., Jones, N., Walker, K., & Sharkey, D. (2025). Association of gestational day with antenatal management and the mortality and respiratory outcomes of extremely preterm infants. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition, https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2024-328066

Objective Perinatal epidemiological studies and outcomes are often reported on gestational week thresholds. This study aims to quantify and investigate the association of each gestational day at birth on antenatal management, mortality and respirator... Read More about Association of gestational day with antenatal management and the mortality and respiratory outcomes of extremely preterm infants.

Determining optimal timing of birth for women with chronic or gestational hypertension at term: The WILL (When to Induce Labour to Limit risk in pregnancy hypertension) randomised trial (2024)
Journal Article
Magee, L. A., Kirkham, K., Tohill, S., Gkini, E., Moakes, C. A., Dorling, J., Green, M., Hutcheon, J. A., Javed, M., Kigozi, J., Mol, B. W., Singer, J., Hardy, P., Stubbs, C., Thornton, J. G., von Dadelszen, P., & WILL Trial Study Group. (2024). Determining optimal timing of birth for women with chronic or gestational hypertension at term: The WILL (When to Induce Labour to Limit risk in pregnancy hypertension) randomised trial. PLoS Medicine, 21(11), Article e1004481. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004481

Background Chronic or gestational hypertension complicates approximately 7% of pregnancies, half of which reach 37 weeks’ gestation. Early term birth (at 37 to 38 weeks) may reduce maternal complications, cesareans, stillbirths, and costs but may inc... Read More about Determining optimal timing of birth for women with chronic or gestational hypertension at term: The WILL (When to Induce Labour to Limit risk in pregnancy hypertension) randomised trial.

The acceptability of implementation of group B Streptococcus testing: Perspectives from women and health professionals in the GBS3 trial: A qualitative study (2024)
Journal Article
Constantinou, G., Ayers, S., Mitchell, E. J., Walker, K. F., Downe, S., Jones, A.-M., Moore, S., & Daniels, J. P. (2024). The acceptability of implementation of group B Streptococcus testing: Perspectives from women and health professionals in the GBS3 trial: A qualitative study. Women and Birth, 37(6), Article 101832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101832

Objective: To determine the acceptability of different methods of routine testing for group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonisation to pregnant women and health care professionals (HCPs), and to examine barriers and facilitators to their implementation. D... Read More about The acceptability of implementation of group B Streptococcus testing: Perspectives from women and health professionals in the GBS3 trial: A qualitative study.

Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral ferrous sulphate for the treatment of moderate to severe postpartum anaemia in Nigerian women (IVON-PP): protocol for an open-label randomised controlled type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial (2024)
Journal Article
Afolabi, B. B., Adaramoye, V. O., Adeyemo, T. A., Balogun, M., Mitchell, E. J., Walker, K., Akinajo, O. R., Abioye, I. A., Banke-Thomas, A., Babah, O. A., Chieme, C. F., Oshodi, Y., Quao, R., Eboreime, E. A., & Ogunsola, F. (2024). Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral ferrous sulphate for the treatment of moderate to severe postpartum anaemia in Nigerian women (IVON-PP): protocol for an open-label randomised controlled type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial. BMJ Open, 14(8), Article e086553. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086553

Introduction Postpartum anaemia is often caused by iron deficiency with onset during the antepartum period and can be exacerbated by excessive blood loss at birth. Its prevalence is estimated as 50–80% in low-income and middle-income countries. It po... Read More about Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral ferrous sulphate for the treatment of moderate to severe postpartum anaemia in Nigerian women (IVON-PP): protocol for an open-label randomised controlled type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial.

Atosiban versus placebo in the treatment of threatened preterm birth between 30 and 34 weeks gestation: study protocol of the 4-year APOSTEL 8 follow-up (2024)
Journal Article
Van Der Windt, L., Klumper, J., Van, E. V. J., Stirum, L., Van 't Hooft, J., Van Wely, M., Van Wassenaer-Leemhuis, A. G., Pajkrt, E., Oudijk, M. A., & Group, S. (2024). Atosiban versus placebo in the treatment of threatened preterm birth between 30 and 34 weeks gestation: study protocol of the 4-year APOSTEL 8 follow-up. BMJ Open, 14(7),

Introduction Currently, the majority of women worldwide with threatened preterm birth are treated with tocolytics. Although tocolytics can effectively delay birth for 48 hours, no tocolytic drug has convincingly been shown to improve neonatal outcome... Read More about Atosiban versus placebo in the treatment of threatened preterm birth between 30 and 34 weeks gestation: study protocol of the 4-year APOSTEL 8 follow-up.

The acceptability of group B streptococcal bacteria (GBS) testing to women, including self-swabbing procedures: A qualitative study (2024)
Journal Article
Constantinou, G., Ayers, S., Mitchell, E. J., Moore, S., Jones, A.-M., Downe, S., Walker, K. F., & Daniels, J. (2024). The acceptability of group B streptococcal bacteria (GBS) testing to women, including self-swabbing procedures: A qualitative study. Midwifery, 135, Article 104063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2024.104063

Background
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterium carried by 20–25 % of pregnant women in the UK, which can be transmitted from pregnant women to their babies at the time of birth. Women can be tested for GBS in pregnancy using a vaginal-rectal... Read More about The acceptability of group B streptococcal bacteria (GBS) testing to women, including self-swabbing procedures: A qualitative study.

GBS vaccines in the UK: a round table discussion [version 1; peer review: 4 approved] (2024)
Journal Article
Thorn, N., Guy, R. L., Karampatsas, K., Powell, M., Walker, K. F., Plumb, J., Khalil, A., Greening, V., Eccleston, E., Trotter, C., Andrews, N., Rush, L., Sharkey, C., Wallis, L., Heath, P., & Le Doare, K. (2024). GBS vaccines in the UK: a round table discussion [version 1; peer review: 4 approved]. F1000Research, 13, Article 519. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.147555.1

Background
Group B streptococcus (GBS) remains a leading cause of infant sepsis, meningitis and death despite intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. A vaccine is urgently required, and two candidates are in advanced clinical trials. For successful GBS... Read More about GBS vaccines in the UK: a round table discussion [version 1; peer review: 4 approved].

Effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines on maternal and perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2024)
Journal Article
Fernández-García, S., Del Campo-Albendea, L., Sambamoorthi, D., Sheikh, J., Lau, K., Osei-Lah, N., Ramkumar, A., Naidu, H., Stoney, N., Sundaram, P., Sengupta, P., Mehta, S., Attarde, S., Maddock, S., Manning, M., Meherally, Z., Ansari, K., Lawson, H., Yap, M., Kew, T., …Thangaratinam, S. (2024). Effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines on maternal and perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Global Health, 9(4), Article e014247. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2023-014247

Objective
To assess the effects of COVID-19 vaccines in women before or during pregnancy on SARS-CoV-2 infection-related, pregnancy, offspring and reactogenicity outcomes.

Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources
Major databa... Read More about Effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines on maternal and perinatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Care for older forensic mental health patients: A consensus guidance document (2023)
Journal Article
Tomlin, J., Walker, K., Yates, J., Dening, T., Goethals, K., Völlm, B., & Griffiths, C. (2023). Care for older forensic mental health patients: A consensus guidance document. European Psychiatry, 66(1), Article e44. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2413

Background
It is important to investigate the needs, experiences, and outcomes of older forensic mental health inpatients. In this consensus document, we offer practitioners working with older forensic inpatients recommendations to meet the unique o... Read More about Care for older forensic mental health patients: A consensus guidance document.

Self-collected versus health-care professional taken swab for identification of vaginal-rectal colonisation with group B streptococcus in late pregnancy: a systematic review (2023)
Journal Article
Odubamowo, K., Garcia, M., Muriithi, F., Ogollah, R., Daniels, J. P., & Walker, K. F. (2023). Self-collected versus health-care professional taken swab for identification of vaginal-rectal colonisation with group B streptococcus in late pregnancy: a systematic review. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 286, 95-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.05.027

Background
Testing for group B streptococcus (GBS) requires a vaginal-rectal swab in late pregnancy.
Objective
A systematic review of the test accuracy of a self-collected swab compared with a health-care professional collected swab in the diagnos... Read More about Self-collected versus health-care professional taken swab for identification of vaginal-rectal colonisation with group B streptococcus in late pregnancy: a systematic review.

Women’s knowledge of and attitudes towards group B streptococcus (GBS) testing in pregnancy: a qualitative study (2023)
Journal Article
Constantinou, G., Ayers, S., Mitchell, E. J., Walker, K. F., Daniels, J., Moore, S., Jones, A. M., & Downe, S. (2023). Women’s knowledge of and attitudes towards group B streptococcus (GBS) testing in pregnancy: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23, Article 339. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05651-0

Background: 20–25% pregnant women in the UK carry group B streptococcus (GBS) which, if left undetected, is transmitted from pregnant mothers to their babies during birth in 36% of cases. This transmission leads to early onset GBS infection (EOGBS) i... Read More about Women’s knowledge of and attitudes towards group B streptococcus (GBS) testing in pregnancy: a qualitative study.

Quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress for older forensic mental health patients: a qualitative investigation based on the perspectives of patients and staff (2023)
Journal Article
Walker, K., Yates, J., Dening, T., Völlm, B., Tomlin, J., & Griffiths, C. (2023). Quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress for older forensic mental health patients: a qualitative investigation based on the perspectives of patients and staff. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, 18(1), Article 2202978. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2202978

Purpose
There is a lack of research informing service requirements for older (aged≥55 years) forensic mental health patients. The aim of this research was to increase knowledge about older forensic mental health patients’ quality of life, wellbeing,... Read More about Quality of life, wellbeing, recovery, and progress for older forensic mental health patients: a qualitative investigation based on the perspectives of patients and staff.

WILL (When to induce labour to limit risk in pregnancy hypertension): Protocol for a multicentre randomised trial (2023)
Journal Article
Kirkham, K., Tohill, S., Hutcheon, J. A., Dorling, J., Gkini, E., Moakes, C. A., Stubbs, C., Thornton, J., von Dadelszen, P., Magee, L. A., & WILL Trial Study Group. (2023). WILL (When to induce labour to limit risk in pregnancy hypertension): Protocol for a multicentre randomised trial. Pregnancy Hypertension, 32, 35-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preghy.2023.03.002

Objectives: To address optimal timing of birth for women with chronic or gestational hypertension who reach term and remain well.
Study design: Pragmatic, non-masked randomised trial. Inclusion: maternal age ≥16 years, chronic or gestational hyperte... Read More about WILL (When to induce labour to limit risk in pregnancy hypertension): Protocol for a multicentre randomised trial.

Feasibility of a RCT of techniques for managing an impacted fetal head during emergency caesarean section: the MIDAS scoping study (2023)
Journal Article
Walker, K. F., Mitchell, E. J., Ayers, S., Jones, N. W., Ogollah, R., Wakefield, N., Dorling, J., Pallotti, P., Pillai, A., Tempest, N., Plachcinski, R., Bradshaw, L., Knight, M., & Thornton, J. G. (2023). Feasibility of a RCT of techniques for managing an impacted fetal head during emergency caesarean section: the MIDAS scoping study. Health Technology Assessment, 27(6), 1-87. https://doi.org/10.3310/KUYP6832

Background: Second-stage caesarean sections, of which there are around 34,000 per year in the United Kingdom, have greater maternal and perinatal morbidity than those in the first stage. The fetal head is often deeply impacted in the maternal pelvis,... Read More about Feasibility of a RCT of techniques for managing an impacted fetal head during emergency caesarean section: the MIDAS scoping study.

The acceptability and feasibility of a randomised trial exploring approaches to managing impacted fetal head during emergency caesarean section: a qualitative study (2023)
Journal Article
Romano, G., Ayers, S., Constantinou, G., Mitchell, E. J., Plachcinski, R., Wakefield, N., & Walker, K. F. (2023). The acceptability and feasibility of a randomised trial exploring approaches to managing impacted fetal head during emergency caesarean section: a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), Article 216. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05444-5

Background: Caesarean sections (CS) account for 26% of all births in the UK, of which at least 5% are done at full dilatation, in the second stage of labour. Second stage CS may be complicated by the fetal head being deeply impacted in the maternal p... Read More about The acceptability and feasibility of a randomised trial exploring approaches to managing impacted fetal head during emergency caesarean section: a qualitative study.

Induction of labour (2023)
Journal Article
Azhur, S., & Walker, K. F. (2023). Induction of labour. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 33(5), 121-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2023.02.001

Induction of labour describes the artificial stimulation of the onset of labour and occurs in up to 30% of pregnancies in the United Kingdom. Both mechanical and pharmacological methods of induction of labour exist. Induction of labour is associated... Read More about Induction of labour.

Techniques for managing an impacted fetal head at caesarean section: A systematic review (2022)
Journal Article
Peak, A. G., Barwise, E., & Walker, K. F. (2023). Techniques for managing an impacted fetal head at caesarean section: A systematic review. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 281, 12-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.12.017

A complication arising at caesarean birth when the baby's head is deeply engaged in the pelvis and may be difficult to deliver, is known as an ‘impacted fetal head’. This obstetric emergency occurs in 16% of second stage caesarean sections. Multiple... Read More about Techniques for managing an impacted fetal head at caesarean section: A systematic review.

Synthetic osmotic dilators (Dilapan-S) or dinoprostone vaginal inserts (Propess) for inpatient induction of labour: A UK cost-consequence model (2022)
Journal Article
Walker, K. F., Zaher, S., Torrejon Torres, R., Saunders, S. J., Saunders, R., & Gupta, J. K. (2022). Synthetic osmotic dilators (Dilapan-S) or dinoprostone vaginal inserts (Propess) for inpatient induction of labour: A UK cost-consequence model. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 278, 72-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.08.018

To estimate the costs of synthetic osmotic dilators (Dilapan-S) compared to dinoprostone vaginal inserts (Propess) for inpatient induction of labour (IOL). A population-level, Markov model-based cost-consequence analysis was developed to compare the... Read More about Synthetic osmotic dilators (Dilapan-S) or dinoprostone vaginal inserts (Propess) for inpatient induction of labour: A UK cost-consequence model.

Caring for women experiencing miscarriage and the importance of good communication (2022)
Journal Article
Hart, S., & Walker, K. F. (2022). Caring for women experiencing miscarriage and the importance of good communication. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 32(11), 262-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2022.08.009

The importance of good quality nursing care for pregnancy loss patients can not be underestimated. Pregnancy loss is comparable to any other kind of loss and patients have noted that the nursing care they receive while in hospital can either add to o... Read More about Caring for women experiencing miscarriage and the importance of good communication.

Systems and Processes that Enable Progress for Older Forensic Mental Health Patients (2022)
Journal Article
Walker, K., Furtado, V., Yates, J., Dening, T., Völlm, B., & Griffiths, C. (2023). Systems and Processes that Enable Progress for Older Forensic Mental Health Patients. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 22(2), 93-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/14999013.2022.2080304

Older forensic mental health patients have complex needs and requirements; service provision is required to address mental health, offending risk and issues associated with aging (geriatric care). This study aimed to identify the systems and processe... Read More about Systems and Processes that Enable Progress for Older Forensic Mental Health Patients.