Optimising digital clinical consultations in maternity care: a realist review and implementation principles.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased use of digital clinical consultations (phone or video calls) within UK maternity services. This project aimed to review the evidence on digital clinical consultations in maternity systems to illuminate how, for whom and in what contexts, they can be used to support safe, personalised and equitable care.

Design

A realist synthesis, drawing on diverse sources of evidence (2010-present) from OECD countries, alongside insights from knowledge user groups (representing healthcare providers and service users).

Methods

The review used three analytical processes (induction, abduction and retroduction) within three iterative stages (development of initial programme theories; evidence retrieval and synthesis; validation and r

SUBMITTER: Evans C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11529580 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature