title: A comparison of intermittent and continuous support during labor: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Our goal was to contrast the influence of intermittent and continuous support provided by doulas during labor and delivery on 5 childbirth outcomes. Data were aggregated across 11 clinical trials by means of meta-analytic techniques. Continuous support, when compared with no doula support, was significantly associated with shorter labors (weighted mean difference -1.64 hours, 95% confidence interval -2.3 to -.96) and decreased need for the use of any analgesia (odds ratio.64, 95% confidence interval.49 to.85), oxytocin (odds ratio.29, 95% confidence interval.20 to.40), forceps (odds ratio.43, 95% confidence interval.28 to.65), and cesarean sections (odds ratio.49, 95% confidence interval.37 to.65). Intermittent support was not significantly associated with any of the outcomes. Odds ratios differed between the 2 groups of studies for each outcome. Continuous support appears to have a greater beneficial impact on the 5 outcomes than intermittent support. Future clinical trials, however, will need to control for possible confounding influences. Implications for labor management are discussed.
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000523:psychology*; D016239:MEDLINE; D009772:Obstetrical Forceps; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors