title: Watchful waiting or induction of labour--a matter of informed choice: identification, analysis and critical appraisal of decision aids and patient information regarding care options for women with uncomplicated singleton late and post term pregnancies: a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decision-making during pregnancy regarding different options of care can be difficult, particularly when risks of intervention versus no intervention for mother and baby are unclear. Unbiased information and support for decision making may be beneficial in these situations. The management of normal pregnancies at and beyond term is an example of such a situation. In order to determine the need to develop an evidence-based decision aid this paper searches, analyses and appraises patient decision aids and patient information leaflets regarding care options in cases of late term and post-term pregnancies, including complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was carried out in a variety of lay and medical databases.
  
  
  METHODS
  written information related to uncomplicated singleton pregnancies and targeted at lay people. Analysis and appraisal of included material by means of quality criteria was set up based on the International Patient Decision Aid Standards accounting for evidence-basing of CAM options.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inclusion of two decision aids and eleven leaflets from four decision aids and sixteen leaflets. One decision aid met the quality criteria almost completely, the other one only insufficiently despite providing some helpful information. Only one leaflet is of good quality, but cannot substitute a decision aid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is an urgent need for the design of an evidence-based decision aid of good quality for late-term or post-term pregnancy, particularly in German language.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Medicine, Chair for Theory of Medicine, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313, Herdecke, Germany. bettina.berger@uni-wh.de.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Hanover Medical School, Midwifery Research Unit, Hannover, Germany. schwarz.christiane@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Medicine, Chair for Theory of Medicine, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313, Herdecke, Germany. peter.heusser@uni-wh.de.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heusser
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D057832:Watchful Waiting