| dc.description.abstract | Abstract
Background: The number of pregnant women being induced is rising both internationally and in Norway. Traditionally, pregnant women are induced at the hospital, but lately several countries are offering women induction in an outpatient setting. A research team planning a multi-center Randomized-controlled trial (RCT), conducted a pilot trial in 2020 at a medium sized hospital in South-Eastern Norway on induction of low-risk pregnancies with misoprostol in an outpatient setting. This study aims to explore women’s experiences of and views on outpatient induction after participating in the above-mentioned RCT.
Method: A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews with twelve women recruited from a Randomized-controlled pilot trail was conducted. Graneheim and Lundman's content analysis was used to analyze the data material.
Results: Three main categories emerged from the data collected during the interviews: The required framework around outpatient induction, What felt better at home and What felt safer at hospital. In order to feel safe at home, the women needed sufficient information and close-follow up while being at home, in addition to the method being easy. It was also important being given a choice, whether to be induced at the hospital or at home. Several women preferred outpatient induction as it gives women the opportunity of constant support from the partner, the increased freedom of movement and self-expression, as well as making the start of labor more similar to spontaneous onset. Others were relieved to be randomized for induction at the hospital, because of easy access to health providers, fetal monitoring, and for not risking giving birth before arrival.
Conclusion: Women had a positive experience of outpatient induction of labor and it contributed to a more personalized maternity care. Being given a choice about place of induction and the opportunity to change one’s mind, was essential.
Keywords: Induction of labor, Outpatient induction, Misoprostol, Women’s experiences, Home, Decision-making | |