Care-educational technologies for labor and delivery: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Health Informatics
• Patient Education

Background:

• Labor and delivery care requires effective tools for both patients and providers.
• Existing care-educational technologies in obstetrics are diverse and their scope is not well-defined.
• There is a need to understand how these technologies support the humanization of childbirth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map and categorize care-educational technologies used in labor and delivery.
• To identify the primary applications and benefits of these technologies for pregnant women, companions, and healthcare professionals.
• To synthesize evidence on how these technologies contribute to improved obstetric care and professional practice.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) recommendations.
• The research question was structured using the PCC (Population, Concept, Context) strategy.
• Searches were performed across multiple databases (Medline/PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science) and gray literature without date or language restrictions, adhering to PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Main Results:

• Twenty-two studies were included in the review.
• Ten distinct types of care-educational technologies were identified.
• Technologies primarily focus on preparing pregnant women and their support persons for labor, aiming to reduce anxiety and enhance autonomy, while also aiding healthcare professionals in labor monitoring and clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

• Care-educational technologies serve as vital strategies in supporting obstetric care.
• These technologies effectively prepare expectant mothers for labor and enhance the practice of healthcare professionals during childbirth.
• The implementation of these technologies can foster safer, more participatory, and humanized childbirth experiences.