Maternal learning needs during labor and delivery.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the learning needs of mothers are met by nurses during labor.

DESIGN

Descriptive survey with a longitudinal time frame.

SETTING

Two hospitals in a midsized Canadian city.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-seven women in their last month of pregnancy, selected at random from 276 eligible women referred by physicians. Final sample for analysis was 40.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Data described patients, their expected learning needs before delivery, the teaching they received, and factors related to the experience.

RESULTS

The majority of subjects wanted teaching in labor and reported that teaching was helpful, but that conflicts in teaching and differing expectations of staff were upsetting. Mothers' expectations and the teaching they received were congruent for some topics and incongruent for others.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest a need for assessment of learning needs of women in labor, consistency among caregivers, and further study with a larger sample.