title: A concept analysis of optimality in perinatal health.
abstract: This analysis was conducted to describe the concept of optimality and its appropriateness for perinatal health care. The concept was identified in 24 scientific disciplines. Across all disciplines, the universal definition of optimality is the robust, efficient, and cost-effective achievement of best possible outcomes within a rule-governed framework. Optimality, specifically defined for perinatal health care, is the maximal perinatal outcome with minimal intervention placed against the context of the woman's social, medical, and obstetric history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Health Care Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. holly.kennedy@nursing.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Holly Powell
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000458:organization & administration; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009773:Obstetric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000458:organization & administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*