Telephone support for women during pregnancy and the first six weeks postpartum

摘要: Background Telephone communication is increasingly being accepted as a useful form of support within health care. There some evidence that telephone may be benefit in specific areas maternity care such to breastfeeding and for women at risk depression. plethora telephone-based interventions currently used It therefore timely examine which benefit, are ineffective, harmful. Objectives To assess the effects during pregnancy first six weeks post birth, compared with routine care, on maternal infant outcomes. Search methods We searched Cochrane Pregnancy Childbirth Group's Trials Register (23 January 2013) reference lists all retrieved studies. Selection criteria included randomised controlled trials, comparing or another supportive intervention aimed pregnant birth. Data collection analysis Three review authors independently assessed studies identified by search strategy, carried out data extraction bias. were entered one author checked second. Where necessary, we contacted trial further information results. Main results have from 27 trials involving 12,256 women. All examined versus usual (no additional support). did not identify any different modes (for example, text messaging one-to-one calls). but high-resource settings. The majority provided via conversations between professionals although small number peers. In two received automated messages. Many address problems collected behavioural outcomes smoking cessation relapse (seven trials) continuation trials). Other high postnatal depression (two preterm birth trials); rest designed offer more general advice. For most our pre-specified few contributed data, many described based findings only Overall, inconsistent inconclusive there was promising intervention. Results suggest increase women's overall satisfaction their period, both periods derived no consistent confirming reduces anxiety after baby, easy interpret time points using variety measurement tools. who had lower mean scores clear less likely diagnosis offering also inconsistent, suggests duration breastfeeding. strong receiving end period. outcomes, birthweight, overall, little evidence. available, differences groups. babies whose mothers been admitted neonatal intensive unit (NICU), it understand mechanisms underpinning this finding. Authors' conclusions Despite encouraging findings, insufficient recommend accessing services, neither nor consistent. Although benefits found terms reduced scores, increased satisfaction, current do provide enough warrant investment resources.