title: The home as an appropriate setting for women undertaking cervical ripening before the induction of labour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to explore women's experiences of cervical ripening using isosorbide mononitrate (IMN) in the home as part of the main randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  qualitative study with semi-structured interviews carried out at three weeks post partum. Interview transcripts were analysed to identify recurrent themes, focusing on why women became involved in the study, their views about both the self-medication and the home setting, and whether they would repeat the experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  the home.
  
  
  METHODS
  twenty women enrolled in the main randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  the study is part of a double-blind randomised controlled trial with 350 patients investigating whether a nitric oxide donor (IMN) used in cervical ripening improves the process of induction of labour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  women liked the opportunity to remain at home during the cervical ripening process. Timing and setting were central issues; women hoped that it would hasten labour, while the home was seen as a setting offering freedom, security and reassurance, as opposed to the hospital, seen as constraining. Two women reported problems with IMN but the remainder reported that they would repeat the experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  women were very positive about the opportunity to undertake cervical ripening at home. It is important to explore this setting further for appropriate interventions.
authors.affiliation: Public Health and Health Policy, Division of Community Based Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK. m.e.reid@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lorimer
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Shrikant S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bollapragada
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Norrie
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000187:drug effects*; D020008:Delavirdine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D020008:Delavirdine; D007548:Isosorbide Dinitrate; C030397:isosorbide-5-mononitrate