Routine obstetrical interventions: research agenda for the next decade

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal Health Nursing

Background:

• Many interventions in active labor management lack updated evidence.
• Distinguishing beneficial nursing care from ritual is crucial for advancing practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify research gaps in routine labor and birth interventions over the next decade.
• To guide the development of an evidence-based research agenda for maternal care.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to identify areas lacking evidence.
• Analysis of routine interventions in labor and birth.
• Formulation of key research questions for future studies.

Main Results:

• Identified critical unanswered questions in labor management.
• Highlighted the need for evidence on epidural timing, maternal movement, and pushing techniques.
• Noted gaps in evidence for continuous electronic fetal monitoring and routine IV fluids.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing maternal and infant care requires addressing evidence gaps in routine interventions.
• A focused research agenda is necessary to improve the evidence base for labor and birth practices.
• Future research should prioritize interventions like oxytocin use, fetal monitoring, and pushing strategies.