Supporting birth companions for women in labor, the views and experiences of birth companions, women and midwives: A mixed methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Birth companions can have a positive effect on women's experiences in labor. However, companions can feel unprepared and need professional guidance to help them feel involved and provide effective support. METHODS: A convergent segregated mixed-methods systematic review was conducted to explore women's, companions', and midwives' experiences of birth companion support and identify ways to improve the experience for women and companions. A thematic synthesis of qualitative data and a narrative summary of quantitative data were conducted followed by integration of the findings. RESULTS: Companions who cope well in labor reported feeling involved, able to preserve women's internal focus and have a defined role, providing physical or emotional support. LBGTQ+ partners faced barriers to inclusion due to "forefronting" of their sexuality by staff and a lack of recognition in the language and processes used. The experience of birth companions can be enhanced by promoting their role as co-parent, guardian, and coach, provision of timely information and developing a trusting relationship with care providers. Only two papers reported midwives' views on birth companions in labor. CONCLUSIONS: Women's and companions' satisfaction with birth is increased when companions can support the mother, feel supported themselves, and valued as a co-parent. The midwives' role in information provision and guidance can maximize birth companions' experience and ability to provide positive support. LBGTQ+ families need more support to feel included and recognized.

Birth environments for women with complex pregnancies: A mixed-methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Birth environments can help support women through labour and birth. Home-like rooms which encourage active birthing are embraced in midwifery-led settings. However, this is often not reflected in obstetric settings for women with more complex pregnancies. AIM: To investigate the impact of the birth environment for women with complex pregnancies. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods systematic review, incorporating qualitative and quantitative research. A literature search was implemented across three databases (Medline, CINAHL, Embase) from the year 2000 to June 2021. Studies were eligible if they were based in an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development country and reported on birth environments for women with complex pregnancies. Papers were screened and quality appraised by two researchers independently. FINDINGS: 30,345 records were returned, with 15 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Studies were based in Australia, the UK, and the USA. Participants included women and health professionals. Five main themes arose: Quality of care and experience; Supportive spaces for women; Supportive spaces for midwives; Control of the space; Design issues. DISCUSSION: Women and midwives found the birth environment important in supporting, or failing to support, a positive birth experience. Obstetric environments are complex spaces requiring balance between space for women to mobilise and access birthing aids, with the need for medical teams to have easy access to the woman and equipment in emergencies. CONCLUSION: Further research is needed investigating different users' needs from the environment and how safety features can be balanced with comfort to provide high-quality care and positive experiences for women.

Establishing information needs and research priorities in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the local maternity setting.

The purpose of this project was to identify gaps in the current evidence base and to identify research priorities in the local context during the Covid-19 pandemic. This paper reports on the application and adaptation of the CHNRI methodology which follows a series of criteria setting, filtering and scoring exercises. The views of maternity care professionals, midwifery managers and leaders, women and families were continually sought throughout the project stages. We found the CHNRI methodology to be a useful framework to highlight topics with greater or smaller consensus within a relatively short time frame and with minimal burden to participants. The criteria were defined to focus on research topics where no existing or on-going studies were identified and topics likely to lead to improvements in care with relevance beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

Seeking culturally safe care: a qualitative systematic review of the healthcare experiences of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of accessing and receiving healthcare related to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) across the life course from the perspective of women and girls who have undergone FGM/C. DESIGN: A systematic review of qualitative research studies using a thematic synthesis approach. METHODS: Inclusion criteria were qualitative studies (including grey literature) of any design, from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, of any date and any language. Sixteen electronic databases were searched from inception to December 2017, supplemented by reference list searching. Papers were screened, selected and quality-appraised by two reviewers using established tools from the Joanna Briggs Institute. NVivo software was used to extract study characteristics and code study findings. An inductive thematic synthesis approach was undertaken to identify descriptive themes and interpret these into higher order analytical constructs. Confidence in the review findings was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations-Confidence in Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research (GRADE-CERQual). RESULTS: Fifty-seven papers (from 55 distinct studies) from 14 different OECD countries were included (50% published within the last 8 years). One-third of studies focused exclusively on maternity care experiences, whereas others covered a range of foci. No studies reported explicitly on girls' experiences or on experiences of health service-led safeguarding interventions. Only three studies addressed psychological care. The synthesis developed 17 descriptive themes, organised into 5 analytical constructs. These related to communication, access to care, experiences of cultural dissonance/integrity, disempowering care experiences and positive care encounters. The themes illuminate significant challenges to obtaining timely and holistic care (especially for deinfibulation), and highlight different ways in which women may experience care as disrespectful, unsafe and disempowering. Key elements of 'culturally safe care' are identified. CONCLUSIONS: This review has highlighted key knowledge gaps, especially around (1) girls'/unmarried women's experiences and (2) the impact of recent safeguarding interventions. There is an ongoing need for community engagement, service development and staff training. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD420150300012015.

Moving to Another World: Understanding the Impact of Clinical Trial Closure on Research Participants Living With HIV in Uganda.

Despite an increasing need for clinical trials involving people living with HIV (PLWH), little is known about how PLWH experience trial closure, particularly in low-income countries, where the majority of trials take place. We sought to explore the impact of trial closure on PLWH in Uganda. This was an interpretive, grounded theory study using in-depth interviews, conducted between October 2014 and August 2015. Adult participants (N = 23) from 3 trials were included. The findings indicated that trial closure was represented as "moving to another world" and was an emotional transition, linked to a loss of quality care in the research environment, the need to find alternative health facilities, fear of experiencing unwanted side effects, a desire to receive trial feedback, and difficulties linking to posttrial care. We concluded that PLWH leaving trials in a resource-limited setting required holistic care to facilitate their transition back to "usual care."

Decision-making experiences of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) regarding treatment in Ghana: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: This is the first qualitative study to explore patient decision-making regarding end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. The study addresses an important gap in the literature concerning choice and decision-making in an international context. METHODS: The study employed a qualitative research design, using grounded theory methodology. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-two adult patients with ESKD in 3 clinical settings in Ghana. Data analysis involved coding and a constant comparative approach to generate key themes. Ethical approval was gained from relevant ethics committees both in Ghana and the United Kingdom. RESULTS: Four main factors (personal, financial, healthcare system, and support network) were identified to influence patient decision-making regarding ESKD treatment in Ghana. Treatment was initiated for various reasons, including, initially, the urgent need to avoid premature death. Many approached their condition hoping for a cure and did not always understand the chronic nature of their condition. Financial and geographical inaccessibility of renal replacement therapy (RRT), as well as a relative lack of biomedical treatment choices, made decision making daunting for the individual with ESKD in Ghana. The subject of death or conservative management was not openly discussed. Rather patients did everything possible to seek alternative forms of treatment, including the simultaneous use of other non-RRT and traditional or faith-based healing approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst similarities exist, this study illuminates stark cultural and contextual differences which make decision-making on ESKD treatment a daunting experience for the individual with ESKD in Ghana - as compared to those in high-income countries. The challenges associated with ESKD management in Ghana calls for meticulous efforts at primary prevention of the disease, including interventions directed at effective management of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and other chronic kidney disease (CKD) precursor conditions. Enhancing information provision would promote informed decision making, particularly within the initial stages of patient decision-making.

"In reality, it is complex and difficult": UK nurses' perspectives on "treatment as prevention" within HIV care.

Globally, clinical guidelines for HIV treatment are being altered to reflect new research showing that successful treatment with antiretroviral therapies (ART) can prevent the onward transmission of HIV. As a result, health care services are being challenged to find ways to roll out "treatment as prevention" (TasP) as a public health measure. In theory, TasP requires individuals to start ART as soon as they are diagnosed - for public health reasons - which may be some time before ART for that individual is required for clinical reasons. There is currently little research on the acceptability of TasP from a patient or provider perspective. This paper reports findings from a qualitative study that sought to explore UK nurses' views and experiences of TasP in HIV care. Ten HIV specialist nurses, purposively selected from across the country, were interviewed. Results suggest that, although positive about TasP in principle, nurses hold several reservations about its implementation in practice. Perceived benefits of TasP include reassurance for patients that their loved ones are protected and that immediate care is available. Concerns include the possibility of sexual dis-inhibition or coercion within sexual relationships. In the UK context, decisions around TasP are still being made on a highly individualised patient by patient basis, within a philosophy of holistic care and partnership working. As such, the research participants called for more resources to support information giving, risk assessment and decision-making. The results show that translating a public health treatment approach into individual patient care is complex, potentially time-consuming and may alter traditional provider-patient dynamics. The findings from this study suggest that in-depth research is needed to understand better the patient, community and provider experience as TasP becomes more widely rolled out.