The study, funded by the BUPA Foundation, is asking pregnant women, whose previous baby was delivered by caesarean section, to participate. The hospitals taking part are Bristol's two maternity hospitals, St Michaels and Southmead, Weston General Hospital, and Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
The researchers have developed two different methods of giving women information about the risks and benefits of natural delivery and repeat caesarean section. These will be compared with a third group who will receive standard usual care.
The study will measure whether the interventions help women to reach a decision about their type of delivery, and if the interventions make any difference to the number of women choosing a natural delivery or repeat caesarean section.
Dr Alan Montgomery, Lecturer in Primary Health Care Research in the Department of Community Based Medicine at Bristol University, said: "Women in this position face a choice between trying for a natural delivery or choosing to have a repeat caesarean section.
"We are keen for as many women as possible, who are eligible for the study, to take part, and have midwives in place at St Michaels and Southmead to help with recruitment."
Recruitment for the study will take place when women attend antenatal clinics at around 12 to 20 weeks' pregnancy. The study started in May and will continue until the end of 2006.
The Academic Unit of Primary Health Care forms part of the Department of Community Based Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Bristol.
The Department conducts high quality research within a number of themes relating to primary care and provides teaching throughout the medical undergraduate curriculum.
The Academic Unit of Primary Health Care is a multidisciplinary group, including academic health professionals, namely GPs and nurses, as well as health service researchers from a variety of backgrounds and administrative support staff. They contribute to primary health care locally through involvement with Primary Care Trusts in Bristol, and nationally through their work with research organisations, professional bodies and funding bodies. All of their work is designed to benefit patients and the NHS.