Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity units
Objectives This study explored women’s views and experiences of key elements of the induction of labour (IOL) process, including at home or in hospital cervical ripening (CR).Design A questionnaire-based postnatal survey undertaken as part of the CHOICE Study process evaluation. The questionnaire wa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/5/e071703.full |
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| author | Helen Cheyne Christine McCourt Dharmintra Pasupathy Julia Sanders Sarah Jane Stock Mairead Black Cassandra Yuill Mairi Harkness Neelam Heera Chlorice Wallace |
| author_facet | Helen Cheyne Christine McCourt Dharmintra Pasupathy Julia Sanders Sarah Jane Stock Mairead Black Cassandra Yuill Mairi Harkness Neelam Heera Chlorice Wallace |
| author_sort | Helen Cheyne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives This study explored women’s views and experiences of key elements of the induction of labour (IOL) process, including at home or in hospital cervical ripening (CR).Design A questionnaire-based postnatal survey undertaken as part of the CHOICE Study process evaluation. The questionnaire was administered online and included fixed response and free-text options.Setting National Health Service maternity units in the UK.Participants 309 women who had an IOL.Outcome measures The primary outcome measure was experience of IOL. Few women returned home during CR, meaning that statistical comparison between those who experienced home-based and hospital-based CR was not possible. Findings are reported as descriptive statistics with content analysis of women’s comments providing context.Results Information to support choice and understand what to expect about IOL is often inadequate or unavailable. Having IOL can create anxiety and remove options for birth that women had hoped would enhance their experience. Although it can provide a more comfortable environment, home CR is not always an acceptable solution. Women described maternity care negatively impacted by staffing shortages; delays to care sometimes led to unsafe situations. Women who had a positive experience of IOL described supportive interaction with staff as a significant contribution to that.Conclusions Women do not experience IOL as a benign and consequence free intervention. There is urgent need for research to better target IOL and optimise safety and experience for women and their babies. Relatively few women were offered CR at home and further research is needed on this experience. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d9a022b4898448f5b4ca815a764f3b01 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-d9a022b4898448f5b4ca815a764f3b012025-02-02T02:40:14ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-05-0113510.1136/bmjopen-2023-071703Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity unitsHelen Cheyne0Christine McCourt1Dharmintra Pasupathy2Julia Sanders3Sarah Jane Stock4Mairead Black5Cassandra Yuill6Mairi Harkness7Neelam Heera8Chlorice Wallace9Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Research Unit, University of Stirling, Stirling, UKCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City University of London, London, UKReproduction and Perinatal Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaSchool of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UKUsher Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UKAberdeen Centre for Women`s Health Research, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Aberdeen, UKCentre for Maternal and Child Health Research, City University of London, London, UKNursing Midwifery and Allied Health Research Unit, University of Stirling, Stirling, UKCysters, Birmingham, UKPrincess Royal University Hospital, Orpington, UKObjectives This study explored women’s views and experiences of key elements of the induction of labour (IOL) process, including at home or in hospital cervical ripening (CR).Design A questionnaire-based postnatal survey undertaken as part of the CHOICE Study process evaluation. The questionnaire was administered online and included fixed response and free-text options.Setting National Health Service maternity units in the UK.Participants 309 women who had an IOL.Outcome measures The primary outcome measure was experience of IOL. Few women returned home during CR, meaning that statistical comparison between those who experienced home-based and hospital-based CR was not possible. Findings are reported as descriptive statistics with content analysis of women’s comments providing context.Results Information to support choice and understand what to expect about IOL is often inadequate or unavailable. Having IOL can create anxiety and remove options for birth that women had hoped would enhance their experience. Although it can provide a more comfortable environment, home CR is not always an acceptable solution. Women described maternity care negatively impacted by staffing shortages; delays to care sometimes led to unsafe situations. Women who had a positive experience of IOL described supportive interaction with staff as a significant contribution to that.Conclusions Women do not experience IOL as a benign and consequence free intervention. There is urgent need for research to better target IOL and optimise safety and experience for women and their babies. Relatively few women were offered CR at home and further research is needed on this experience.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/5/e071703.full |
| spellingShingle | Helen Cheyne Christine McCourt Dharmintra Pasupathy Julia Sanders Sarah Jane Stock Mairead Black Cassandra Yuill Mairi Harkness Neelam Heera Chlorice Wallace Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity units BMJ Open |
| title | Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity units |
| title_full | Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity units |
| title_fullStr | Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity units |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity units |
| title_short | Experience of induction of labour: a cross-sectional postnatal survey of women at UK maternity units |
| title_sort | experience of induction of labour a cross sectional postnatal survey of women at uk maternity units |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/5/e071703.full |
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