ABSTRACT
Background There is a limited understanding of pregnant women's antenatal care experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Purpose To review and synthesize qualitative studies on uninfected pregnant women's antenatal care experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods : Five databases were searched for qualitative studies published between January 2020 and January 2023. This study used a thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence and was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Furthermore, this review was registered with PROSPERO and a quality appraisal was assessed. Results : Nine published qualitative studies were included in this review. The studies were conducted in eight countries and included 3,709 participants. Five themes were identified: (1) disruptions of normal antenatal care services, (2) feelings of uncertainty, (3) desire for sufficient spousal support, (4) coping strategies, and (5) trust in healthcare providers. Discussion The themes can be utilized to reform current interventions for pregnant women by nurse-midwife managers and by healthcare policymakers to improve current practice and direct new research to prepare for future pandemics.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is a limited understanding of pregnant women's antenatal care experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. PURPOSE: To review and synthesize qualitative studies on uninfected pregnant women's antenatal care experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Five databases were searched for qualitative studies published between January 2020 and January 2023. This study used a thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence and was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Furthermore, this review was registered with PROSPERO and a quality appraisal was assessed. RESULTS: Nine published qualitative studies were included in this review. The studies were conducted in eight countries and included 3,709 participants. Five themes were identified: (a) disruptions of normal antenatal care services, (b) feelings of uncertainty, (c) desire for sufficient spousal support, (d) coping strategies, and (e) trust in health care providers. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The themes can be utilized to reform current interventions for pregnant women by nurse-midwife managers and by health care policymakers to improve current practice and direct new research to prepare for future pandemics.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Midwifery , Female , Pregnancy , Humans , Pregnant Women , Prenatal Care , Pandemics , COVID-19/epidemiology , Qualitative ResearchABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this qualitative systematic review is to identify and synthesize qualitative studies of frontline nurses' experiences and challenges when caring for patients with COVID-19 in hospitals. BACKGROUND: This review is the first qualitative systematic review of nurses' experiences since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Understanding nurses' experiences with COVID-19 is important because nurses are among the most vital of healthcare workers. METHODS: This study used a qualitative systematic review methodology with thematic synthesis to analyse the included studies. Five databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) were searched from January to mid-August 2020, and 25 abstracts were screened. Based on inclusion criteria, this qualitative systematic review included nine studies. RESULTS: Five themes were identified as barriers to COVID-19 care by 133 hospital-based nurses: limited information about COVID-19, unpredictable tasks and challenging practices, insufficient support, concerns about family, and emotional and psychological stress. CONCLUSIONS: The five barriers identified in this review should be overcome to improve nurses' experiences and, in turn, the quality of care patients with COVID-19 receive. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING AND HEALTH POLICY: The findings from this review can be used to reform current healthcare and hospital-support systems for populations with COVID-19. They can also be used to point towards areas of research interested in improving frontline nursing. Finally, nursing leaders, healthcare policymakers and governments should use these findings to better support the nursing workforce in the current or a future pandemic.