Dimensions of professional labor support for intrapartum practice.

PURPOSE

To define and describe the dimensions of Professional Labor Support (PLS).

DESIGN AND METHODS

A factor-analytic study was conducted with a random sample of 146 intrapartum nurses in Texas. Nurses' responses to the Labor Support Questionnaire (LSQ) were subjected to principal components analysis and descriptive analysis.

FINDINGS

A six-factor solution indicated the dimensions of PLS: Tangible Support, Advocacy, Emotional Support-Reassurance, Emotional Support-Creating Control, Security and Comfort, Emotional Support-Nurse Caring Behavior, and Informational Support.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the presence of four dimensions was theorized, six dimensions were found. The emotional support dimension was identified by nurses as being an important component of labor support as indicated by the identification of three separate emotional support dimensions.