Our Research

Safer pregnancies, births and care

Bringing a baby into the picture is a team effort. We join hands with our families and healthcare workers to welcome our bundle of joy. Our team is more likely to thrive when we communicate effectively. In other words, we are more likely to have a positive pregnancy journey and an ideal birthing experience when we feel heard and can clearly convey our wishes to those providing care. This applies not only to parents but also to grandparents, friends, and other supporting individuals – all essential team members.

The TeamBaby research group has developing tools to:

Empower parents-to-be communicate their needs to health care workers
Train midwives, doctors and nurses to provide a better quality of care

Get in Touch!

Our mission is to enhance the quality of care for expectant parents. We have developed and rigorously tested our tools in Germany and are eager to facilitate researchers in testing and implementing our tools for diverse target groups and locations. If you have inquiries regarding our research or are interested in adapting or utilizing our tools, please don't hesitate to contact our project lead, Prof. Dr. Sonia Lippke.

Our evidence base

All our tools are grounded in theory and evidence. We have dedicated extensive effort to compile this body of research to enhance the quality of care in Obstetrics.

Our study protocol

Lippke, S., Wienert, J., Keller, F.M., Derksen, C., Welp, A., Kötting, L., Hofreuter-Gätgens, K., Müller, H., Louwen, F., Weigand, M. Ernst, K., Kraft, K., Reister, F., Polasik, A., Huener nee Seemann, B., Jennewein, l., Scholz, C. & Hannawa, A. (2019). Communication and patient safety in gynecology and obstetrics – study protocol of an intervention study. BMC Health Serv Res, 19(1), 908. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-019-4579-y

Understanding obstetric care

Derksen, C., Keller, F. M., & Lippke, S. (2020). Obstetric healthcare workers’ adherence to hand hygiene recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic: Observations and social-cognitive determinants. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 12(4), 1286-1305. https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aphw.12240

Dietl, J. E., Derksen, C., Keller, F. M., Schmiedhofer, M., & Lippke, S. (2023). Psychosocial processes in healthcare workers: How individuals’ perceptions of interpersonal communication are related to patient safety threats and higher-quality care. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(9), 5698. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/9/5698

Herzog-Petropaki, N., Derksen, C., & Lippke, S. (2022). Health behaviors and behavior change during pregnancy: theory-based investigation of predictors and interrelations. Sexes, 3(3), 351-366. https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes3030027

Hüner, B., Derksen, C., Schmiedhofer, M., Lippke, S., Janni, W., & Scholz, C. (2022). Preventable adverse events in obstetrics—systemic assessment of their incidence and linked risk factors. Healthcare, 10(1), 97. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/1/97

Hüner, B., Derksen, C., Schmiedhofer, M., Lippke, S., Riedmüller, S., Janni, W., Reister, F., & Scholz, C. (2023). Reducing preventable adverse events in obstetrics by improving interprofessional communication skills–Results of an intervention study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1), 55. https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-022-05304-8

Hüner, B., Schmiedhofer, M., Derksen, C., Polasik, A., Janni, W., Reister, F., & Lippke., S. (2023). „Hilflosigkeit, das Abgeben jeglicher Selbstverantwortung und Selbstbestimmtheit “– eine qualitative Auswertung von traumatisierenden Geburtserlebnissen in Relation zum Geburtsmodus / “Helplessness, giving up of any self-responsibility and self-determination” – a qualitative evaluation of traumatizing birth experiences in relation to birth mode”. Zeitschrift für Geburtshilfe und Neonatologie, 227(03), 204-212. https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-2039-3017

Keller, F., Derksen, C., Schmiedhofer, M., Welp, A., Koetting, L., & Lippke, S. (2020). Patientensicherheit und wahrgenommene Risiken für Vermeidbare Unerwünschte Ereignisse aus Sicht von Patienten und Beschäftigten im Gesundheitswesen [Patient safety and perceived risks for Preventable Adverse Events from the perspective of patients and healthcare workers]. Monitor Versorgungsforschung, 13(05), 83-89. http://doi.org/10.24945/MVF.05.20.1866-0533.2251

Kötting, L., Henschel, N. T., Keller, F. M., Derksen, C., & Lippke, S. (2023). Social-cognitive correlates of expectant mothers’ safe communication behavior: Applying an adapted HAPA model. Cogent Psychology, 10(1), 2173996. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2023.2173996

Schmiedhofer, M., Derksen, C., Dietl, J. E., Häussler, F., Louwen, F., Hüner, B., Reister, F., Strametz, R., & Lippke, S. (2022). Birthing under the condition of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: Interviews with mothers, partners, and obstetric healthcare workers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1486. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/3/1486

Schmiedhofer, M., Derksen, C., Keller, F. M., Dietl, J. E., Häussler, F., Strametz, R., Koester-Steinebach, I., & Lippke, S. (2021). Barriers and facilitators of safe communication in obstetrics: Results from qualitative interviews with physicians, midwives, and nurses. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(3), 915. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18030915

Developing and testing our tools

Dietl, J. E., Derksen, C., Keller, F. M., & Lippke, S. (2023). Interdisciplinary and interprofessional communication intervention: How psychological safety fosters communication and increases patient safety. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1164288. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1164288/full

Derksen, C., Dietl, J. E., Haeussler, F. E., Steinherr Zazo, M., Schmiedhofer, M., & Lippke, S. (2023). Behavior change training for pregnant women’s communication during birth: A randomized controlled trial. Applied Psychology: Health and Well‐Being, 15(3), 865-883. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36380576/

Derksen, C., Kötting, L., Keller, F. M., Schmiedhofer, M., & Lippke, S. (2022). Psychological intervention to improve communication and patient safety in obstetrics: Examination of the health action process approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.739100

Kötting, L., Derksen, C., Keller, F. M., & Lippke, S. (2023). Comparing the effectiveness of a web-based application with a digital live seminar to improve safe communication for pregnant women: 3-group partially randomized controlled trial. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 6, e44701. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37486755/

Lippke, S., Derksen, C., Keller, F. M., Kötting, L., Schmiedhofer, M., & Welp, A. (2021). Effectiveness of communication interventions in obstetrics—A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(5), 2616. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052616

Lippke, S. & Derksen, C. (2023-in press). Gesundheitskompetenz lehren und lernen - Trainingsprogramm für Sozial- und Gesundheitsberufe [Teaching and learning health literacy - training program for social and health care professionals]. Bern: Hogrefe Verlag. E-Book-ISBN_PDF 978-3-456-96287-0; E-Book-ISBN_EPUB 978-3-456-76287-6; ISBN 978-3-456-86287-3; https://doi.org/10.1024/86287-000.

Schmiedhofer, M., Derksen, C., Dietl, J.E., Haeussler, F., Strametz, R., Huener, B., & Lippke, S. (2022). The impact of a communication training on the birth experience: Qualitative interviews with mothers after giving birth at obstetric university departments in Germany. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19, 11481. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811481

Project Lead

Prof. Dr. Sonia Lippke
Professor of Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine School of Business,
Social and Decision Sciences Constructor University Research,
IV Campus Ring 1

+49 421 200 4730
slippke@constructor.university