Antenatal education for self-diagnosis of the onset of active labour at term

 

Abstract

Background

A specific program designed to teach women to recognise active labour may be beneficial through potentially decreasing the incidence of early admission to hospital, increasing women's confidence, feelings of control and empowerment, and decreasing their anxiety.

Objectives

The objective of this review was to assess the effects of teaching pregnant women specific criteria for self-diagnosis of active labour onset in term pregnancy.

Search methods

We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (October 2007).

Selection criteria

Randomised trials comparing a structured antenatal education intervention for the identification of symptoms for self-diagnosis of active labour with usual care.

Data collection and analysis

Trial quality was assessed.

Main results

One study involving 245 women was included. Method of randomisation was unclear and 15% of the sample was lost to follow up in this trial. A specific antenatal education program was associated with a reduction in the mean number of visits to the labour suite before the onset of labour (weighted mean difference -0.29, 95% confidence interval -0.47 to -0.11). It is unclear whether this resulted in fewer women being sent home because they were not in labour.

Authors' conclusions

There is not enough evidence to evaluate the use of a specific set of criteria for self-diagnosis of active labour.

 

Plain language summary

Antenatal education for self-diagnosis of the onset of active labour at term

Not enough evidence to prove the benefit of a specific set of criteria to self-diagnose active labour.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell when active labour has begun. A false diagnosis can mean multiple visits to the hospital, frustration and discomfort for the mother, decreased confidence in caregivers and additional financial burdens. Antenatal education of women has been developed to increase their confidence and decrease their anxiety. Providing a specific set of criteria to women may be an effective way of helping them recognise the onset of active labour. The review of trials found there was not enough evidence to show whether specific criteria are more beneficial than general guidelines in helping women determine their stage of labour.

 

摘要

背景

產前教育以便自我診斷足月產程的開始

用特定計畫來教導孕婦瞭解生產，有利於減少太早住院的發生率、增加婦女的信心、有控制和授權的感覺、且可減少焦慮

目標

此回顧之目標為評估教導孕婦有關足月產程開始時的自我診斷之特定規範的效果

搜尋策略

我們搜尋Cochrane Pregnancy和Childbirth Group's Trials Register (2007年10月)

選擇標準

隨機試驗比較結構式產前教育介入和一般照護，確認產程開始時之症狀的自我診斷

資料收集與分析

評估試驗品質

主要結論

納入1篇研究、245名婦女。隨機方法不清楚，15% 的樣本失去追蹤。特定的產前教育計畫與減少產程開始前即到產房的平均次數有關(加權平均差為 0.29, 95% CI為 −0.47至 −0.11)。不清楚這是否會減少婦女因為未生產而返家

作者結論

沒有足夠證據評估使用於產程開始時之自我診斷的特定準則

翻譯人

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院(National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan)統籌

總結

沒有足夠證據支持產程開始時之自我診斷的特定準則的好處。有時候難以分辨產程是否開始。錯誤判斷代表需前往醫院多次，造成孕婦沮喪與不適、降低照護者的信心、及額外的經濟負擔。已經有人使用產前教育來增加她們的信心與減少焦慮。提供特定的準則可讓婦女有效認知產程開始。此次回顧發現，沒有足夠證據顯示特定準則對於協助確認產程方面是否比一般指引更有效。