McKimmie-Doherty M, Sweet L, Blackman B, O'Donohoe R, Sheridan N, Coghlan E
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital, Western Health, Melbourne, Australia.
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2025 Feb 13. doi: 10.1111/ajo.70004.
Birth in the operating theatre is increasing in prevalence and includes elective and emergency caesarean section and instrumental vaginal births. Birth in the operating theatre is a well-documented risk factor for negative subjective patient outcomes. Despite this, there has been little research into women's experiences of birth in theatre or staff perspectives on how they may create and contribute to a more positive theatre birth environment.
To explore both the women and caregiver's experiences of birth in the operative theatre and to identify ways to deliver and optimise woman-centred care.
This qualitative prospective study used experience based co-design principles and enrolled both women who gave birth in the operating theatre and staff who cared for them. All participants underwent semi-structured interviews to discuss their birth experiences. Thematic analysis was then undertaken to identify key themes from both the caregiver and patient perspective.
Key themes centered around communication and maintaining an empowering birth environment. Participants acknowledged the need for clear and respectful communication between women, their support person, and the multidisciplinary team, particularly within emergency situations. Supporting and maintaining an empowering birth environment was achieved through advocacy, autonomy, and inclusion of a support person at all stages of the theatre journey.
Communication and an empowering birth environment significantly influenced the subjective experience of birth within the operating theatre. Results from this study may be used to identify system adaptations and improvements to support more positive birth experiences in the operating theatre.
手术室分娩的发生率正在上升，包括择期剖宫产、急诊剖宫产和器械助产阴道分娩。手术室分娩是一个有充分文献记载的导致患者负面主观结果的风险因素。尽管如此，对于女性在手术室分娩的经历以及工作人员对如何营造和促成更积极的手术室分娩环境的看法，研究甚少。
探讨女性和护理人员在手术室分娩的经历，并确定提供和优化以女性为中心护理的方法。
这项定性前瞻性研究采用基于经验的协同设计原则，纳入了在手术室分娩的女性及其护理人员。所有参与者都接受了半结构化访谈，以讨论她们的分娩经历。然后进行主题分析，从护理人员和患者的角度确定关键主题。
关键主题围绕沟通和维持一个赋予权力的分娩环境。参与者承认，女性、其支持人员和多学科团队之间需要进行清晰且尊重的沟通，尤其是在紧急情况下。通过在手术室分娩过程的各个阶段进行倡导、给予自主权和让支持人员参与，实现了支持和维持一个赋予权力的分娩环境。
沟通和一个赋予权力的分娩环境显著影响了手术室分娩的主观体验。本研究结果可用于确定系统调整和改进措施，以支持在手术室获得更积极的分娩体验。
