title: Outcome measures in studies on the use of oxytocin for the treatment of delay in labour: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to identify primary and secondary outcome measures in randomised trials, and systematic reviews of randomised trials, measuring effectiveness of oxytocin for treatment of delay in the first and second stages of labour, and to identify any positive health-focussed outcomes used.
  
  
  METHODS
  eight relevant citation databases were searched up to January 2013 for all randomised trials, and systematic reviews of randomised trials, measuring effectiveness of oxytocin for treatment of delay in labour. Trials of active management of labour or partogram action lines were excluded. 1918 citations were identified. Two reviewers reviewed all citations and extracted data. Twenty-six individual trials and five systematic reviews were included. Primary and secondary outcome measures were documented and analysed using frequency distributions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  most frequent primary outcomes were caesarean section (n=15, 46%), length of labour (n=14, 42%), measurements of uterine activity (n=13, 39%) and mode of vaginal birth (n=9, 27%). Maternal satisfaction was identified a priori by one review and included as a secondary outcome by three papers. No further positive health-focussed outcomes were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  outcomes used to measure the effectiveness of oxytocin for treatment of delay in labour are heterogeneous and tend to focus on adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  it is recommended that, in future randomised trials of oxytocin use for delay in labour, some women-centred and health-focussed outcome measures should be used, which may instil a more salutogenic culture in childbirth.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, 24 D׳Olier St, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address: cbegley@tcd.ie.
authors.forename: Cecily M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Begley
authors.affiliation: Midwifery Research and Education Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Mechthild M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dencker
authors.affiliation: Midwifery Research and Education Unit, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benstoem
authors.affiliation: Gothenburg Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Devane
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Core outcomes; Delay in labour; Health focus; Oxytocin; Salutogenesis; Systematic review