Information-seeking barriers and strategies in maternity care: a framework analysis of nurses’ goals, plans, and actions

Dalton, E. D., Miller, L. E., Pjesivac, Ivanka, & Eldredge, S. A. (2022). Information-seeking barriers and strategies in maternity care: a framework analysis of nurses’ goals, plans, and actions. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, Advance online publication: DOI 10.1080/17538068.2022.2060455

Abstract: There is limited understanding about informational barriers that nurses face when assessing obstetric patients and the strategies they use to obtain and elicit disclosure of potentially sensitive health information. Using framework analysis and goals-plans-actions theory, this study qualitatively explored the perspectives of nurses through 22 in-depth interviews, nurse practitioners, and midwives on these processes and strategies. Two overarching themes regarding barriers to disclosure and six themes regarding strategies to address these barriers emerged. Barriers included intentional self-concealment and unintentional omission of information. Strategies to overcome these barriers include education, rapport building, strategic questioning, creating a zone of privacy, seeking out information from other sources, and postnatal debriefing sessions. Framework analysis points to four overarching strategic implications for communicative practices in health care settings: creating mutual understanding, creating rapport, creating privacy, and creating more empowered and informed patients.