Does it get better with age? Women's experience of communication in maternity care.
Maternal age
Patient-centred care
Perception
Primiparous women
Quality of health care
Journal
Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives
ISSN: 1878-1799
Titre abrégé: Women Birth
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101266131
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2019
Jun 2019
Historique:
received:
17
03
2018
revised:
23
08
2018
accepted:
24
08
2018
pubmed:
13
9
2018
medline:
21
8
2019
entrez:
13
9
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Communication with maternity care providers is one of the strongest predictors of the perceived quality of maternity care. There is evidence that older mothers experience better communication than younger mothers, but no evidence for why this occurs. To identify differences between younger (<35 years) and older (35+ years) mother's perceived quality of communication and any apparent age-related differences. We analysed cross-sectional data from 2504 first-time mothers in the Having a Baby in Queensland Survey 2012. Binary logistic regression assessed associations between maternal age and perceived optimal communication (information, participation, and connection) from care providers during women's most recent pregnancy and birth. Multivariable logistic regression modelling determined the effect of potential confounders (model of care, mode of birth, maternal age, and risk perceptions) on associations between age and communication quality. After adjustment for confounders, older mothers were more likely to report experiencing optimal information (e.g., not receiving conflicting information) and connection with caregivers (e.g., comfortable asking questions) in both pregnancy and birth. There were no age-related differences in the perception of participation. Model of care and mode of birth were more influential than maternal age in predicting communication perceptions. Women who used midwifery or private obstetric models and had unassisted vaginal births were more likely to perceive optimal communication. Given the benefits of communication on maternity care, redressing these age-related differences should be a focus of future communication training for care providers to ensure that women receive optimal communication, regardless of their age.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Communication with maternity care providers is one of the strongest predictors of the perceived quality of maternity care. There is evidence that older mothers experience better communication than younger mothers, but no evidence for why this occurs.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
To identify differences between younger (<35 years) and older (35+ years) mother's perceived quality of communication and any apparent age-related differences.
METHODS
METHODS
We analysed cross-sectional data from 2504 first-time mothers in the Having a Baby in Queensland Survey 2012. Binary logistic regression assessed associations between maternal age and perceived optimal communication (information, participation, and connection) from care providers during women's most recent pregnancy and birth. Multivariable logistic regression modelling determined the effect of potential confounders (model of care, mode of birth, maternal age, and risk perceptions) on associations between age and communication quality.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
After adjustment for confounders, older mothers were more likely to report experiencing optimal information (e.g., not receiving conflicting information) and connection with caregivers (e.g., comfortable asking questions) in both pregnancy and birth. There were no age-related differences in the perception of participation. Model of care and mode of birth were more influential than maternal age in predicting communication perceptions. Women who used midwifery or private obstetric models and had unassisted vaginal births were more likely to perceive optimal communication.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Given the benefits of communication on maternity care, redressing these age-related differences should be a focus of future communication training for care providers to ensure that women receive optimal communication, regardless of their age.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30206041
pii: S1871-5192(18)30150-1
doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.08.170
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e366-e375Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2018 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.