Maternal learning needs during labor and delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the learning needs of mothers are met by nurses during labor.


METHODS
Descriptive survey with a longitudinal time frame.


METHODS
Two hospitals in a midsized Canadian city.


METHODS
Fifty-seven women in their last month of pregnancy, selected at random from 276 eligible women referred by physicians. Final sample for analysis was 40.


METHODS
Data described patients, their expected learning needs before delivery, the teaching they received, and factors related to the experience.


RESULTS
The majority of subjects wanted teaching in labor and reported that teaching was helpful, but that conflicts in teaching and differing expectations of staff were upsetting. Mothers' expectations and the teaching they received were congruent for some topics and incongruent for others.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest a need for assessment of learning needs of women in labor, consistency among caregivers, and further study with a larger sample.
Evans
S
S
Faculty of Nursing, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Jeffrey
J
J
D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009773:Obstetric Nursing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires