title: On speaking terms: a Delphi study on shared decision-making in maternity care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For most women, participation in decision-making during maternity care has a positive impact on their childbirth experiences. Shared decision-making (SDM) is widely advocated as a way to support people in their healthcare choices. The aim of this study was to identify quality criteria and professional competencies for applying shared decision-making in maternity care. We focused on decision-making in everyday maternity care practice for healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  An international three-round web-based Delphi study was conducted. The Delphi panel included international experts in SDM and in maternity care: mostly midwives, and additionally obstetricians, educators, researchers, policy makers and representatives of care users. Round 1 contained open-ended questions to explore relevant ingredients for SDM in maternity care and to identify the competencies needed for this. In rounds 2 and 3, experts rated statements on quality criteria and competencies on a 1 to 7 Likert-scale. A priori, positive consensus was defined as 70% or more of the experts scoring ≥6 (70% panel agreement).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consensus was reached on 45 quality criteria statements and 4 competency statements. SDM in maternity care is a dynamic process that starts in antenatal care and ends after birth. Experts agreed that the regular visits during pregnancy offer opportunities to build a relationship, anticipate situations and revisit complex decisions. Professionals need to prepare women antenatally for unexpected, urgent decisions in birth and revisit these decisions postnatally. Open and respectful communication between women and care professionals is essential; information needs to be accurate, evidence-based and understandable to women. Experts were divided about the contribution of professional advice in shared decision-making and about the partner's role.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SDM in maternity care is a dynamic process that takes into consideration women's individual needs and the context of the pregnancy or birth. The identified ingredients for good quality SDM will help practitioners to apply SDM in practice and educators to prepare (future) professionals for SDM, contributing to women's positive birth experience and satisfaction with care.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Midwifery Science, Faculty Midwifery Education & Studies, Zuyd University, Universiteitssingel 60, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands. m.nieuwenhuijze@av-m.nl.
authors.forename: Marianne J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nieuwenhuijze
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Korstjens
authors.forename: Ank
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Jonge
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagro-Janssen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D032921:Consensus; D003657:Decision Making; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy