Mothers' perspectives on the potential use of video-calling during early labour in the United Kingdom and Italy: A qualitative study.
Childbirth
Early labour
Maternity care
Telehealth
Video-call
Women
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:
Jul 2023
Jul 2023
Historique:
received:
28
10
2022
revised:
11
01
2023
accepted:
17
01
2023
medline:
12
6
2023
pubmed:
23
1
2023
entrez:
22
1
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Women in early labour are typically encouraged to delay maternity unit admission, but they may find this challenging without appropriate professional support. Despite pre-pandemic research which identified potential advantages of video-calling in early labour, implementation of such service has not been reported. To explore mothers' perspectives on potential use of video-calls during early labour. A multi-centre descriptive qualitative study was undertaken in UK and Italy. Ethical approval was gained and ethical processes were followed. Six virtual focus groups were conducted with 37 participants, 24 mothers who gave birth in the UK and 13 who gave birth in Italy. Line-by-line thematic analysis was performed and themes agreed. Two themes emerged: 1) women's expectations of video-calls' content and features; 2) technological challenges and solutions. Mothers responded positively to the concept of video-calling in early labour. Receiving guidance, information on coping with pain and advice on timely access in early labour was perceived as key. Women highlighted the importance of accessible, reliable and user-friendly technology. Equitable access, technological literacy, acceptability and privacy were considered as challenges to implementation, with solutions proposed to overcome disparities. Guidance and training should be provided to midwives, with designated resources to build a service that is accessible, acceptable, safe, individualised and respectful for mothers and birth companions. Further research should explore feasibility, acceptability, clinical and cost-effectiveness.
Sections du résumé
PROBLEM
OBJECTIVE
Women in early labour are typically encouraged to delay maternity unit admission, but they may find this challenging without appropriate professional support.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Despite pre-pandemic research which identified potential advantages of video-calling in early labour, implementation of such service has not been reported.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
To explore mothers' perspectives on potential use of video-calls during early labour.
METHODS
METHODS
A multi-centre descriptive qualitative study was undertaken in UK and Italy. Ethical approval was gained and ethical processes were followed. Six virtual focus groups were conducted with 37 participants, 24 mothers who gave birth in the UK and 13 who gave birth in Italy. Line-by-line thematic analysis was performed and themes agreed.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
Two themes emerged: 1) women's expectations of video-calls' content and features; 2) technological challenges and solutions. Mothers responded positively to the concept of video-calling in early labour. Receiving guidance, information on coping with pain and advice on timely access in early labour was perceived as key. Women highlighted the importance of accessible, reliable and user-friendly technology. Equitable access, technological literacy, acceptability and privacy were considered as challenges to implementation, with solutions proposed to overcome disparities.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Guidance and training should be provided to midwives, with designated resources to build a service that is accessible, acceptable, safe, individualised and respectful for mothers and birth companions. Further research should explore feasibility, acceptability, clinical and cost-effectiveness.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36682951
pii: S1871-5192(23)00017-3
doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.01.004
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e405-e411Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.