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Learning Objective 1: Summarize the research related to women's perceptions and desires when in latent labor
Learning Objective 2: Develop a in-hospital environment that bridges the gap between women's desires and the science on management of care in latent labor
Methods: One hundred pregnant women, at term, were surveyed after being sent home with a diagnosis of latent labor. The setting was a large tertiary hospital where care is provided by nurse practitioners. The survey instrument was developed based on the current science related to management of latent labor and perceptions of women in latent labor. Questions were framed according to Donabedian’s quality improvement framework conceptualized by structure, process and outcomes.
Results: The majority of the women would have been more satisfied with care if allowed to eat, drink and ambulate. Most women wanted clearer instructions before being sent home and over 80% would have liked a follow-up phone call. Comfort, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical measures were important for women and many reported their needs were not met. Forty-one percent of women reported they did not want to be sent home and there was a variety of reasons reported related to both structure and processes of care.
Conclusions: In-hospital labor and delivery triage departments can implement changes in care delivery to women in latent labor that can enhance patient satisfaction. Many women in latent labor preferred not to go home.