Protocol for the INSPIRE Study: A Training Package for the Intrapartum Team to Promote Respectful and Non-stigmatizing Care for Patients with Substance Use Disorder

Individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) often encounter challenges in healthcare, including provider attitudes, stigma, and gaps in clinical education. For pregnant and birthing individuals with SUD, these challenges are further compounded by moral blame, judgment, clinician burnout, and limited institutional support. Each of the aforementioned factors are barrier to evidence-based, person-centered care, and contributes to adverse outcomes for both birthing individuals and newborns. This study aims to address those barriers by designing and implementing a stigma-reduction and clinical empathy training package tailored for the intrapartum healthcare workforce. Focusing on the in-patient labor and delivery period, the intervention aims to foster institutional change, grow clinician confidence, and promote a culture of empathy and understanding. The proposed intervention, <i>Interprofessional Simulation Program for Clinical Resilience and Empathy</i> (INPSIRE), will include multi-component training modules and an adaptive intervention designed to address provider clinical knowledge, stigma, and burnout among clinicians and will promote the use of practical tools for demonstrating clinical empathy and support. In developing the intervention, the study will examine quality and stigma in intrapartum care from clinician and patient perspectives through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, restorative justice story circles, and postpartum patient interviews. Drawing insights from these qualitative methods, the INSPIRE intervention will then be co-designed with stakeholders to ensure relevance and effectiveness. The impact of the INSPIRE intervention will be evaluated using a quasi-experimental design, assessing its effects on healthcare team outcomes, patient outcomes, and scalability. Through self-directed online learning and in-person team simulation, the INSPIRE intervention aims to enhance provider skills, promote respectful care, and ultimately improve maternal health outcomes for individuals with SUD.