title: Measuring maternal satisfaction with maternity care: A systematic integrative review: What is the most appropriate, reliable and valid tool that can be used to measure maternal satisfaction with continuity of maternity care?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this systematic integrative review is to identify, summarise and communicate the findings of research relating to tools that measure maternal satisfaction with continuity of maternity care models. In so doing the most appropriate, reliable and valid tool that can be used to measure maternal satisfaction with continuity of maternity care will be determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic integrative review of published and unpublished literature was undertaken using selected databases. Research papers were included if they measured maternal satisfaction in a continuity model of maternity care, were published in English after 1999 and if they included (or made available) the instrument used to measure satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred and thirty two unique papers were identified and after applying the selection criteria, four papers were included in the review. Three of these originated in Australia and one in Canada. The primary focus of all papers was not on the development of a tool to measure maternal satisfaction but on the comparison of outcomes in different models of care. The instruments developed varied in terms of the degree to which they were tested for validity and reliability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women's satisfaction with maternity services is an important measure of quality. Most satisfaction surveys in maternity appear to reflect fragmented models of care though continuity of care models are increasing in line with the evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. It is important that robust tools are developed for this context and that there is some consistency in the way this is measured and reported for the purposes of benchmarking and quality improvement.
authors.affiliation: University of Canberra, University Drive, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia; Calvary Health Care Bruce, Haydon Drive, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia. Electronic address: noelyn.perriman@calvary-act.com.au.
authors.forename: Noelyn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perriman
authors.affiliation: University of Canberra, University Drive, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia; ACT Health, Yamba Drive, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000592:standards*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Continuity; Maternity; Questionnaire; Reliability; Satisfaction