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Findlay HJ, Anderson JK, Francis KL, Clegg LM, Maria SJ. The significance of paramedic communication during women's birth experiences: A scoping review. Australas Emerg Care 2024:S2588-994X(24)00023-X. [PMID: 38734501 DOI: 10.1016/j.auec.2024.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internationally, over one-third of women experience birth trauma, leading to adverse mental health outcomes. Poor communication with healthcare professionals is a primary contributing factor. Paramedics attend various clinical presentations, including childbirth, yet their potential impact on women's birth experiences has been largely overlooked. METHODS A systematic literature search was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework. The search identified 1015 potentially suitable articles, and 5 articles met the inclusion criteria. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis from a feminist standpoint. RESULTS Three themes were generated: 1. First Impressions Count: paramedic demeanour impacted the woman's sense of safety and perception of paramedic clinical competence. 2. Choice as a Pathway to Control: when paramedics involved women in decision-making, it led to empowerment, while non-involvement led to women becoming passive participants. 3. Exposed, Violated and Disempowered: some paramedics disrespected and abused women, treating them solely as objects for the purpose of producing a baby. CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the influence of paramedic communication on women's birth experiences. While some paramedics communicated respectfully, other paramedics were the perpetrators of Obstetric Violence. Future research should inform paramedic education and improve outcomes for birthing women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley J Findlay
- Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue Bathurst, School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia.
| | - Judith K Anderson
- Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue Bathurst, School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia
| | - Karen L Francis
- Charles Sturt University, School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2627, Australia
| | - Lisa M Clegg
- Charles Sturt University, School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, 7 Major Innes Rd, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444, Australia
| | - Sonja J Maria
- Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue Bathurst, School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia
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Mielewczyk FJ, Boyle EM. Uncharted territory: a narrative review of parental involvement in decision-making about late preterm and early term delivery. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:526. [PMID: 37464284 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05845-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Almost 30% of live births in England and Wales occur late preterm or early term (LPET) and are associated with increased risks of adverse health outcomes throughout the lifespan. However, very little is known about the decision-making processes concerning planned LPET births or the involvement of parents in these. This aim of this paper is to review the evidence on parental involvement in obstetric decision-making in general, to consider what can be extrapolated to decisions about LPET delivery, and to suggest directions for further research.A comprehensive, narrative review of relevant literature was conducted using Medline, MIDIRS, PsycInfo and CINAHL databases. Appropriate search terms were combined with Boolean operators to ensure the following broad areas were included: obstetric decision-making, parental involvement, late preterm and early term birth, and mode of delivery.This review suggests that parents' preferences with respect to their inclusion in decision-making vary. Most mothers prefer sharing decision-making with their clinicians and up to half are dissatisfied with the extent of their involvement. Clinicians' opinions on the limits of parental involvement, especially where the safety of mother or baby is potentially compromised, are highly influential in the obstetric decision-making process. Other important factors include contextual factors (such as the nature of the issue under discussion and the presence or absence of relevant medical indications for a requested intervention), demographic and other individual characteristics (such as ethnicity and parity), the quality of communication; and the information provided to parents.This review highlights the overarching need to explore how decisions about potential LPET delivery may be reached in order to maximise the satisfaction of mothers and fathers with their involvement in the decision-making process whilst simultaneously enabling clinicians both to minimise the number of LPET births and to optimise the wellbeing of women and babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frances J Mielewczyk
- Leicester City Football Club (LCFC) Research Programme, Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, George Davies Centre, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK.
| | - Elaine M Boyle
- Department of Population Health Sciences, College of Life Sciences, George Davies Centre, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
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Dai Z, Meindl M, Tetteh D. Vlogging Pregnancy and Laboring During the Pandemic on YouTube. J Perinat Educ 2023; 32:141-148. [PMID: 37520791 PMCID: PMC10386787 DOI: 10.1891/jpe-2021-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Since early 2020, the world has been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid changing situation led to unforeseeable challenges and questions for many people, including pregnant women. Through a textual analysis of personal narratives told via pregnancy and/or laboring vlogs during COVID-19, this present study aims to understand how women from China who live in another country during pregnancy have utilized YouTube vlogs to share their experiences. Through this analysis, we identify various challenges that these women experienced during their pregnancy. The COVID-19 pandemic exaggerated the normal difficulties of these issues and also created additional problems for these women, including regular pregnancy tests, choice of birthing locations, and the support and caring that were normal during this time period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehui Dai
- Correspondence regarding this article should be directed to Zehui Dai, PhD. E-mail:
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Maternity care through the eyes of Southern European immigrant parents in Norway. GACETA SANITARIA 2020; 36:111-117. [PMID: 33386186 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2020.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore Southern European immigrant mothers and fathers' experiences of reproductive health services in Norway, and their perceptions of health providers' beliefs and attitudes regarding pregnancy and childbirth. METHOD We employed a qualitative research methodology with two focus group discussions and 11 in-depth interviews with 4 fathers and 11 mothers from Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, whose children were born in Norway. Thematic Analysis was conducted to identify and analyze patterns across the data. RESULTS We identified three themes as key elements in parents' experiences: experiences with the coverage and organization of the Reproductive Health Services; relational experiences with health providers; and pregnancy and delivery as a culturally-shaped event. The immigrant parents experienced a clash between their expectations and the procedures and health facility environment encountered in Norway regarding check-ups, diagnosis tests, childbirth preparation courses, and health facilities. Informants perceived that the maternity care practices of the host country were underpinned by the health care providers' cultural understandings of labor and pregnancy. Particularly, they experienced a less interventionist approach towards pregnancy and childbirth. CONCLUSIONS The experiences of immigrant parents provide relevant information to improve reproductive health services in a cross-cultural context. Inmigration brings new challenges that must be addressed from a perspective of cultural competence. These services should acknowledge diversity in cultural beliefs around childrearing and involve both fathers and mothers in decision-making.
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MacLellan J. The storying of birth. Health (London) 2020; 26:181-199. [PMID: 32486867 PMCID: PMC8928421 DOI: 10.1177/1363459320925866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Birth narratives have been found to provide women with the most accessible and often utilised means for giving voice to their exploration of meaning in their births. The stories women tell of their birth come out of their pre- and post-experience bodies, reproducing society through the sharing of cultural meanings. I recruited a selection of 20 birth stories from a popular ‘mums’ Internet forum in the United Kingdom. Using structural and thematic analyses, I set out to explore how women tell the story of their body in childbirth. This project has contributed evidence to the discussion of women’s experiences of subjectivity in the discursive landscape of birth, while uncovering previously unacknowledged sites of resistance. The linguistic restrictions, sustained by the neoliberal control mechanisms on society and the self, act to shape the reality, feelings, and expressions of birthing women. Naming these silencing strategies, as I have done through the findings of this project, and celebrating women’s discourse on birth, as the explosion of birth stories across the Internet are doing, offer bold moves to challenge the muting status quo of women in birth. Reclaiming women’s language for birth and working to create a new vocabulary encapsulating the experiences of birthing women will also present opportunities for the issue of birth and women’s experiences of it to occupy greater political space with a confident and decisive voice.
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de Quattro L. Co-producing childbirth knowledge: a qualitative study of birth stories in antenatal sessions. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2019; 19:437. [PMID: 31771537 PMCID: PMC6878671 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2605-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Birth stories surround pregnant women. Existing research on childbirth knowledge suggests that personal accounts from family and friends play a foundational role upon which other information builds. However, among the handful of studies that specifically address the educational role of birth stories, stories appeared to have little impact on knowledge creation. This paper engages with this discussion by exploring how birth stories contributed to the co-construction of birth knowledge within the specific context of antenatal sessions. Findings draw from the pilot study of a project which seeks to understand how women use collective approaches to co-produce birth knowledge. Method Research data drew from participant observation of group-led Homebirth sessions (25 participants) and teacher-led National Childbirth Trust classes (18 participants). The researcher analysed transcripts using template analysis, a form of thematic content analysis, with principles from feminist ethnography and narrative analysis. Results Storytelling proved central to mother-to-mother antenatal group practices, providing not only information, but also a means for understanding. This educational work took place through various mechanisms: Stories (re)shaped expectations, shared practical techniques, navigated different truth claims and approaches to knowledge, and helped build supportive communities of parents. These findings emerged more prominently in group-led sessions compared to teacher-led sessions. Conclusion Compared to teacher-led norms, storytelling and other collective approaches to antenatal education provide additional resources to childbearing women. As dialogic, complex and flexible learning tools, stories offer uniquely diverse, credible and supportive messages. The next phase of this project will further investigate these findings, explore informal collective practices, and seek to evaluate the impact of collective knowledge on childbirth experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah de Quattro
- Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester, Simon Building 2.54, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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Stitt C, Vang K. Midwife and Doula Information on the Web: An Analysis of Websites that Provide Information About Pregnancy and Childbirth. JOURNAL OF CONSUMER HEALTH ON THE INTERNET 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/15398285.2019.1574203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Stitt
- Department of Communication Studies, California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Karen Vang
- Cultural Studies, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Alderdice F, Henderson J, Opondo C, Lobel M, Quigley M, Redshaw M. Psychosocial factors that mediate the association between mode of birth and maternal postnatal adjustment: findings from a population-based survey. BMC WOMENS HEALTH 2019; 19:42. [PMID: 30832642 PMCID: PMC6399915 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-019-0738-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mode of birth has been found to be associated with maternal postnatal adjustment with women who have Caesarean Sections (CS) thought to be at higher risk of emotional distress. However the relationship is complex and studies have demonstrated mixed findings. The aim of this study is to evaluate a model that explores the direct relationship between mode of birth and postnatal maternal adjustment at 3 months and indirect relationships through psychosocial variables. METHODS A secondary analysis of a population-based survey conducted in England, UK in 2014. The analysis included primiparous women with singleton babies who provided information about mode of birth (n = 2139). RESULTS Maternal postnatal adjustment, as measured by Maternal postnatal wellbeing and Satisfaction with care during labour and birth, varied by mode of birth. Women who had an unplanned CS had the poorest postnatal adjustment. Mode of birth was not associated with Maternal/infant sense of belonging. Four out of the five proposed mediation variables (Perceived control, Maternal expectation, Support in labour, How long until the mother held her baby), showed partial mediation of the relationship between mode of birth and both Maternal postnatal wellbeing and Satisfaction with care during labour and birth. The strongest mediator was Perceived control and the only variable not to show a significant mediation effect was Health of the infant at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS Birth by unplanned, but not planned, caesarean section was associated with poorer maternal adjustment and instrumental birth was associated with lower maternal satisfaction with labour and birth. These relationships were found to be partially mediated by psychosocial variables. Psychosocial interventions in the perinatal period should be considered to optimise maternal postnatal adjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Alderdice
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.
| | - Jane Henderson
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Charles Opondo
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Marci Lobel
- Professor of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-2500, USA
| | - Maria Quigley
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Maggie Redshaw
- Policy Research Unit in Maternal Health and Care, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
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Horstman HK, Anderson J, Kuehl RA. Communicatively Making Sense of Doulas within the U.S. Master Birth Narrative: Doulas as Liminal Characters. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2017; 32:1510-1519. [PMID: 27813661 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2016.1234537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Doulas-or designated women experienced in childbirth who provide support to a birthing mother-have been shown to improve mothers' medical outcomes, but they are relatively underused in U.S. births. We assert that doulas are rarely used, in part, because it is difficult to situate them within the contemporary U.S. master birth narrative that places family and medical staff as expected characters in the birth story. This qualitative study uses narrative theorizing to describe the communicatively situated position of doulas in light of the dominant U.S. master birth narrative. Through an analysis of interviews and focus groups with mothers, expectant parents, doulas, and medical staff (n = 52) at a community hospital, we explain how individuals communicatively located the doula as a character who occupied a liminal space that is (a) between borders, (b) crossing borders, and (c) outside borders. Although doulas' liminal location enables individuals to creatively explain and promote doulas to important publics, doulas' conceptual ambiguity in the birth narrative can also be constraining. We conclude with theoretical and practical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jenn Anderson
- b Department of Communication , South Dakota State University
| | - Rebecca A Kuehl
- b Department of Communication , South Dakota State University
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Jackson C, Land V, Holmes EJB. Healthcare professionals' assertions and women's responses during labour: A conversation analytic study of data from One born every minute. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2017; 100:465-472. [PMID: 27769589 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/08/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Communication during labour is consequential for women's experience yet analyses of situated labour-ward interaction are rare. This study demonstrates the value of explicating the interactional practices used to initiate 'decisions' during labour. METHODS Interactions between 26 labouring women, their birth partners and HCPs were transcribed from the British television programme, One Born Every Minute. Conversation analysis was used to examine how decisions were initiated and accomplished in interaction. FINDINGS HCPs initiate decision-making using interactional practices that vary the 'optionality' afforded labouring women in the responsive turn. Our focus here is on the minimisation of optionality through 'assertions'. An 'assertive' turn-design (e.g. 'we need to…') conveys strong expectation of agreement. HCPs assert decisions in contexts of risk but also in contexts of routine activities. Labouring women tend to acquiesce to assertions. CONCLUSION The expectation of agreement set up by an assertive initiating turn can reduce women's opportunities to participate in shared decision-making (SDM). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS When decisions are asserted by HCPs there is a possible dissonance between the tenets of SDM in British health policy and what occurs in situ. This highlights an educational need for HCPs in how best to afford labouring women more optionality, particularly in low-risk contexts.
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Antecedents and consequences of emotional work in midwifery: A prospective field study. Int J Nurs Stud 2016; 60:168-78. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Holtz B, Smock A, Reyes-Gastelum D. Connected Motherhood: Social Support for Moms and Moms-to-Be on Facebook. Telemed J E Health 2015; 21:415-21. [DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2014.0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bree Holtz
- Department of Media and Information, College of Communication Arts & Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Andrew Smock
- Department of Radio-TV-Film, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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van Helmond I, Korstjens I, Mesman J, Nieuwenhuijze M, Horstman K, Scheepers H, Spaanderman M, Keulen J, Vries RD. What Makes for Good Collaboration and Communication in Maternity Care? A Scoping Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHILDBIRTH 2015. [DOI: 10.1891/2156-5287.5.4.210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Good communication and collaboration are critical to safe care for mothers and babies.OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with good collaboration and communication among maternity care professionals and between both professionals and parents.METHOD: Scoping study. We searched PubMed and Web of Science for peer reviewed, quantitative and qualitative, original, primary research in Western societies on communication and collaboration in maternity care among professionals (Search 1) and between professionals and parents (Search 2).FINDINGS: The 40 studies (14 in Search 1; 26 in Search 2) that met our selection criteria highlighted several factors associated with good communication and collaboration. We grouped these factors into 6 categories: Expertise, Partnership, Context, Attitude, Trust, and Communication style. Studies of communication and collaboration among professionals foregrounded work-related aspects, whereas studies examining collaboration between professionals and parents paid more attention to interpersonal aspects. Before 2012, few studies covered positive aspects of communication and collaboration. We also found an underrepresentation of parents in study populations.CONCLUSION: Our study is part of a growing trend of identifying the positive aspects of communication and collaboration in maternity care. As the study of collaboration in practice continues, researchers need to be sure to involve all stakeholders, including parents.
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe nulliparas' reasons for the type of provider (i.e., midwife, physician) and childbirth setting (i.e., home, hospital, hospital-based birth center) that respondents expected for their births. Data were collected via a cross-sectional, descriptive, self-administered, Web-based survey including both close- and open-ended questions and were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Respondents were 220 nulliparous women aged 18-40 years, living in the United States, and pregnant at 20 or fewer weeks' gestation. Women's reasons were categorized broadly as relating to provider/setting attributes, relationship with provider/setting, normative choices, respondent attributes, and practical considerations. Respondents' reasons highlight misconceptions about childbirth care options, especially regarding midwifery and nonhospital settings, which may be addressed by childbirth education.
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McGrath P, Holewa H. Patient stories: an innovative direction for nurses providing support to hematology patients in rural areas. Nurs Forum 2014; 49:182-188. [PMID: 24404922 DOI: 10.1111/nuf.12079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This study set out to explore the attitudes toward a "Patient Stories" DVD as a psychosocial support initiative for patients diagnosed with a hematological malignancy. DESIGN A qualitative research design was employed through a series of open-ended interviews and one focus group. PARTICIPANTS Participants were purposively sampled from a database of patients maintained by the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland. In total, there were 50 participants (n=26 male, n=24 female), which represented the following major hematological diagnostic groups: multiple myeloma (n=15), lymphoma (n=14), leukemia (n=17), and other (n=4). Of the overall cohort, 11 participants had undergone a bone marrow transplant, and 15 had undergone a stem cell transplant (allogeneic and autologous transplants). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Most participants believed that a "Patient Stories" DVD would be a beneficial and effective way for nurses delivering psychosocial support to hematology patients. Such benefits included a sense of normalization from hearing similar stories and providing convenient support that did not require travel or potentially uncomfortable social situations. However, some participants did not show interest in the idea for reasons such as already having a local support system and not wanting to watch potentially frightening stories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pam McGrath
- Centre for Community Science, Population and Social Health Program, Griffith Health Institute, Logan Campus, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
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Use of social networking sites by parents of very low birth weight infants: experiences and the potential of a dedicated site. Eur J Pediatr 2013; 172:1671-7. [PMID: 23913310 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-013-2067-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The objective of this study was to study the experiences of parents of preterm infants who use social networking sites and the potential of such sites for gathering information and facilitating personal exchange. An anonymous self-reporting questionnaire was administered to parents of infants below 1,500 g birth weight born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 in two tertiary neonatal intensive care units. Of the 278 families who were sent a questionnaire, 141 responded; 53.6 % of respondents claimed to be presently members of online social networking sites. However, only 10.7 and 18.6 % used the Internet to exchange information about their infants during the NICU stay and after discharge, respectively. Most (64.0 %) responding parents considered that currently available commercial Internet sites inadequately met their need to exchange information as parents of preterm infants. Overall, 79.1 % of respondents reported that they would be interested in joining a native-language online networking site providing (1) general information on prematurity, (2) explanations of abbreviations commonly used in a hospital setting, and (3) details of common medical problems and the treatment thereof, including the availability of local therapists and follow-up services. Also, parents wanted to engage in personal exchange online not only with other parents but also with medical staff. CONCLUSION The support of parents of hospitalized preterm infants by neonatal nurses and doctors could be extended by developing an expert-controlled, online networking site providing reliable and updated information and facilitating personal exchange among parents.
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Abstract
By its nature, the date that a baby is predicted to be born, or the due date, is uncertain. How women construct the uncertainty of their due dates may have implications for when and how women give birth. In the United States as many as 15% of births occur before 39 weeks because of elective inductions or cesarean sections, putting these babies at risk for increased medical problems after birth and later in life. This qualitative study employs a grounded theory approach to understand the decisions women make on how and when to give birth. Thirty-three women who were pregnant or had given birth within the past 2 years participated in key informant or small-group interviews. The results suggest that women interpret the uncertainty of their due dates as a reason to wait for birth and as a reason to start the process early; however, information about a baby's brain development in the final weeks of pregnancy may persuade women to remain pregnant longer. The uncertainties of due dates are analyzed using Babrow's problematic integration, which distinguishes between epistemological and ontological uncertainty. The results point to a third type of uncertainty, axiological uncertainty. Axiological uncertainty is rooted in the values and ethics of outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Vos
- a Department of Communication , University of Kentucky
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US nulliparas' perceptions of roles and of the birth experience as predictors of their delivery preferences. Midwifery 2013; 29:885-94. [PMID: 23415361 DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2012] [Revised: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 10/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE to develop a model for understanding predictors of nulliparas' delivery preferences: provider type, setting, mode of delivery and the use/avoidance of pain medication. DESIGN a cross-sectional, descriptive, self-administered, web-based survey. The sample was composed of nulliparous women aged 18-40, living in the US and pregnant at 20 or fewer weeks' gestation (n=344). Data were analysed using structural equation modelling. FINDINGS women who regard their active participation as effective and essential to the childbearing process are more likely to prefer the care of a midwife, the home as the birth setting, vaginal delivery and the avoidance of pain medication compared to women who see their role as a passive one. When women perceive their provider's role to be more central to the delivery process than their own, they are likely to prefer the care of a physician and the hospital setting. If the provider's role is seen as a collaborative one, women are likelier to prefer midwifery care and planned home birth. The more painful and fearful a woman expects the delivery experience to be, the more likely she is to prefer a caesarean delivery to vaginal birth. KEY CONCLUSIONS women's perceptions of (a) their role in pregnancy and delivery, (b) their providers' role in assisting them and (c) the nature of the delivery experience are effective predictors of their delivery preferences. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE providers can help ensure that the informational resources that influence women's perceptions about delivery are factual and evidence-based.
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Romano AM. A Changing Landscape: Implications of Pregnant Women's Internet Use for Childbirth Educators. J Perinat Educ 2012; 16:18-24. [PMID: 18769519 DOI: 10.1624/105812407x244903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Internet use among pregnant women is common and frequent, while attendance at childbirth education classes appears to be on the decline. This article explores why women turn to the Internet in pregnancy and how Internet use may affect their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. It suggests strategies for engaging women's interest in the Internet and describes how doing so may help increase the effectiveness of "traditional" childbirth education while mitigating the potentially overwhelming and confusing aspects of Internet use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy M Romano
- AMY ROMANO is a certified nurse-midwife and author. She is also the Perinatal Research and Advocacy Coordinator for the Lamaze Institute for Normal Birth ( www.lamaze.org )
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Fair CD, Morrison TE. The relationship between prenatal control, expectations, experienced control, and birth satisfaction among primiparous women. Midwifery 2011; 28:39-44. [PMID: 21458895 DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2010.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2010] [Revised: 10/22/2010] [Accepted: 10/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This paper explores the relationship between perceptions of prenatal control, expectations for childbirth, and experienced control in labour and birth and how they individually and collectively affect birth satisfaction. DESIGN A repeated measures exploratory study was conducted with 31 primiparous women between 26 and 40 weeks pregnant. Standardised interviews were conducted prior to birth to assess levels of prenatal control and expectations for control during childbirth. Six weeks after the birth, women were interviewed again to assess experiences of control and birth satisfaction. SETTING Prenatal clinic, North Carolina, USA. FINDINGS Results show experienced control to be a significant predictor of birth satisfaction, with high levels of control correlating with high satisfaction levels. However, no correlations were found between the three aspects of control, and both prenatal control and birth expectations were found to have no significant effect on birth satisfaction. Findings also indicate that women cared for by midwives have significantly higher experienced control and birth satisfaction than women whose care was provided by obstetricians, while incidence of caesarean birth did not affect either measure. CONCLUSIONS Experienced control during labour and birth is an important predictor of birth satisfaction. Health care providers should collaborate with the women they care for to use techniques that maximize the experience of control especially during labour and birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia D Fair
- Human Services Department, CB 2338, Elon University, Elon, NC 27244, USA.
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Abstract
This analysis was conducted to describe the concept of therapeutic alliance and its appropriateness for health-care provider-client interactions during the childbearing season. The concept has been defined in other disciplines. A universal definition suggested a merging of efforts directed toward health. A simple and concise definition evolved, which is applicable to the childbearing season as well as to health-care encounters across the life span. This definition states: Therapeutic alliance is a process within a health-care provider-client interaction that is initiated by an identified need for positive client health-care behaviors, whereby both parties work together toward this goal with consideration of the client's current health status and developmental stage within the life span.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ellen Doherty
- MARY ELLEN DOHERTY is an associate professor in the Department of Nursing at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. She has been a nurse-midwife and childbirth educator for more than 25 years
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Seale C, Charteris-Black J, MacFarlane A, McPherson A. Interviews and internet forums: a comparison of two sources of qualitative data. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2010; 20:595-606. [PMID: 20008955 DOI: 10.1177/1049732309354094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We report a comparative keyword analysis of interviews and Internet postings involving people with breast and prostate cancer and discussion of sexual health. Interviewees produce retrospective accounts, their content guided by interviewers' questions, which might elicit rich biographical and contextual details. Internet exchanges concern participants' current experiences and contain detailed accounts of disease processes, medical procedures, bodily processes, and, in the case of sexual health, sexual practices. They are used by participants to exchange information and support in a relatively anonymous context. Because of the ease with which large amounts of such archived Internet materials can be accessed and analyzed, this source has considerable potential for direct observation of illness experiences, although some disadvantages also exist. This reverses an earlier situation where observational research was more laborious than qualitative interviews. Observational material for research purposes is, through the Internet, now easy to obtain and produces naturalistic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clive Seale
- Centre for Health Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, 2 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom.
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Matthias MS. The impact of uncertainty on decision making in prenatal consultations: obstetricians' and midwives' perspectives. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2010; 25:199-211. [PMID: 20461605 DOI: 10.1080/10410230903544977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
This article examines decision making in prenatal consultations, how obstetricians (OBs) and midwives differ, and the role of uncertainty in these processes. Using participant-observation, comparative case-study methodology, pregnant women were observed and audio-recorded in their pre- and postnatal appointments, and in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with mothers and providers. Although decision-making processes appear similar between the OBs and midwives, closer analysis, employing problematic integration theory, reveals marked differences in providers' probabilistic and evaluative orientations that carry clear implications for both mothers and providers during pregnancy care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Sassi Matthias
- Center of Excellence on Implementing Evidence-Based Practice, Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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Brown JB, Beckhoff C, Bickford J, Stewart M, Freeman TR, Kasperski MJ. Women and their partners' perceptions of the key roles of the labor and delivery nurse. Clin Nurs Res 2009; 18:323-35. [PMID: 19679701 DOI: 10.1177/1054773809341711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This descriptive qualitative study examined the perspectives of women and their partners regarding the key roles of the labor and delivery nurse during labor and birth.Ten couples were interviewed separately.The data analysis, conducted through independent and team analysis, was both iterative and interpretive. Participants identified four key roles of the labor and delivery nurse: support person, educator, patient advocate, and provider of continuity. Nurses provided both physical and emotional support.As an educator, they normalized the birth experience and served as a coach for the couple. Nurses advocated on behalf of the woman in labor, particularly when there was an adverse event. The continuity of care provided by the nurses wove the above roles into a cohesive whole. Findings provide important information for nursing educators, supervisors, and hospital administrators to reinforce the meaningful roles nurses serve in the labor and birth experiences of women and their partners.
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Plantin L, Daneback K. Parenthood, information and support on the internet. A literature review of research on parents and professionals online. BMC FAMILY PRACTICE 2009; 10:34. [PMID: 19450251 PMCID: PMC2694765 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-10-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2008] [Accepted: 05/18/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this article was to address questions on how parents use the internet to find information and support regarding children, health and family life. Another aim was to find out how professionals use the internet to provide support and information to parents. This was done by a literature review. METHODS Articles were searched for in five databases with a search strategy called "building block" approach. RESULTS The review showed that the majority of today's parents search for both information and social support on the internet. However, there are considerable differences due to gender, age and socio-economic differences. First time middle class mothers aged 30-35 are most active in looking up health and parent information on the internet. In the same time, several studies report diminishing class differences on parent web sites. An important reason to the increasing number of parents who turn to the internet for information and interaction has shown to be the weakened support many of today's parents experience from their own parents, relatives and friends. Professionals have recognized the parents' great interest for going online and offer both information and support on the net. CONCLUSION Many benefits are reported, for example the possibility to reach out to a wider audience and to increase access to organisations without an increase in costs. Other benefits include the possibility for parents to remain anonymous in their contacts with professionals and that parents' perceived need for information can be effectively met around the clock. Interventions for wider groups of parents, such as parent training on the net, are still very rare and more research is needed to evaluate different types of interventions on the net. However, most studies were empirical and lacked theoretical frameworks which leave questions on how we can more fully understand this phenomenon unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Plantin
- Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Imes RS, Bylund CL, Sabee CM, Routsong TR, Sanford AA. Patients' reasons for refraining from discussing internet health information with their healthcare providers. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2008; 23:538-547. [PMID: 19089701 DOI: 10.1080/10410230802460580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This exploratory study examined factors that constrain patients from discussing Internet health information with their healthcare providers. Participants (N = 714) were asked to list reasons why they have not talked with their providers about Internet health information they had found. Factors (N = 767) included patient attributions about the information, systems or circumstances, fear of treading on the provider's turf, face-saving concerns, and patient perceptions of provider attributions about the information. Comparisons between those who had and those who had not talked to their healthcare providers about their Internet research revealed significant differences in types of constraining factors indicated. Issues concerning an increasingly Internet-savvy public and provider-patient relationships are considered in the discussion within the framework of the goals, planning, action theory. Continued efforts in provider and patient education can help to overcome barriers that restrict communication concerning Internet health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S Imes
- Department of Communication, Carroll University, Waukesha, WI 53186, USA.
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Carolan M. Women's stories of birth: a suitable form of research evidence? Women Birth 2006; 19:65-71. [PMID: 16908226 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2006.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2006] [Revised: 06/26/2006] [Accepted: 06/28/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In the past one to two decades, midwifery care has taken a new direction, which encompasses a valuing of women's birth experiences. This move has been contingent upon, and congruent with the adoption of 'woman centred' care and a renewed emphasis on normal birth. In line with these developments, women's stories and anecdotes of birth and midwives stories of experience increasingly form the basis of presentations at midwifery conferences and forums. Overall, this philosophical realignment, which commenced in Australia in the early 1990s, has been applauded by many midwives in terms of a greater valuing of the wishes and experiences of childbearing women and as being consistent with a greater promotion of normal birth. Nonetheless, it also gives rise to several questions, regarding the suitability of this form of research evidence. In a bid to answer some of those questions, this paper aims to evaluate the use of stories and anecdotal evidence within midwifery. First, an overview is presented of the way in which stories of pregnancy and birth appear in the literature. Secondly, the value of stories as evidence is critiqued and, finally, the ratio of story based publications, compared to traditional research methodologies, is reviewed. This review aims to address an area poorly attended in the literature and asks specifically: Are women's birth stories a suitable form of research evidence in midwifery?
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Carolan
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Victoria Institute of Health and Diversity, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne 8001, Australia.
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28
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Evans W. Bibliography. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2005; 18:309-15. [PMID: 16187935 DOI: 10.1207/s15327027hc1803_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- William Evans
- Institute for Communication and Information Research, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0172, USA.
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