Women’s Experiences of Care Provider Interaction During Decision-Making About Induction of Labor: A Narrative Systematic Review of the Qualitative Literature

BACKGROUND: In addition to improving maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, the World Health Organization now additionally requests that maternity care providers provide high-quality respectful care to childbearing women. Within this study, providing respectful care surrounds helping women make decisions about whether or not to have their labor induced, which encompasses providing good care provider interaction (CPI) within a considerate and empathetic interface. With this in mind, we wanted to explore what prior studies report about women’s experiences of CPI when deciding whether or not to have their labor induced.

METHOD: A narrative systematic review of qualitative literature was conducted.

RESULTS: Nine articles published between 2010 and May 2022 met the inclusion criteria, from which four themes were identified: (a) involvement in the decision-making process; (b) risk awareness; (c) sources and format of the information; and (d) trust in the care provider. The synthesis of data showed that many women feel uninvolved in decision-making processes surrounding their induction of labor (IOL) and perceive that they were provided with minimal choice. While most women have high levels of trust in their care provider, risks surrounding continuing the pregnancy often remain undiscussed. Additionally, women sometimes feel rushed into making a decision, with a lack of information provided in the right format regarding potential risks that might be involved.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: In full recognition that maternity care professionals are motivated to communicate effectively with women, it is important that the risks of having IOL are fully discussed. The information provided needs to be tailored in both content and format according to individualized needs. Women require to explore their options and be afforded time to ask questions prior to deciding whether or not to have their labor induced.