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Women's information needs, decision-making and experiences of membrane sweeping to promote spontaneous labour
Julie Roberts1, Kerry Evans1, Helen Spiby1
1Division of Midwifery, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Floor 12, Tower Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD UK.
Objective:
To explore and synthesise evidence of women's information needs, decision-making and experiences of membrane sweeping to promote spontaneous labour.
Design:
A systematic review following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) meta-aggregative approach to qualitative evidence synthesis. Relevant databases were searched for literature published in English between 2000-19. Study quality was assessed using the JBI quality assessment tool for qualitative studies.
Setting:
Qualitative research conducted in OECD countries describing women's information needs, decision-making and/or experiences of membrane sweeping to promote spontaneous labour.
Findings:
One article met the criteria for inclusion. This article describes the experience of a membrane sweep given without consent.
Key Conclusions And Implications For Practice:
There is a lack of evidence around women's information needs, decision-making and experiences of membrane sweeping. This is concerning, especially in the context of rising rates of formal induction of labour. Further research is needed to investigate how women are being offered membrane sweeping and what information women need to make informed choices about membrane sweeping to promote spontaneous labour.
