The relationship between birth unit design and safe, satisfying birth: Developing a hypothetical model

Recent advances in cross-disciplinary studies linking architecture and neuroscience have revealed that much of the built environment for health-care delivery may actually impair rather than improve health outcomes by disrupting effective communication and increasing patient and staff stress. This is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Midwifery 2010-10, Vol.26 (5), p.520-525
Main Authors: Foureur, Maralyn, Davis, Deborah, Fenwick, Jennifer, Leap, Nicky, Iedema, Rick, Forbes, Ian, Homer, Caroline S.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Appreciation
Birthing Centers - organization & administration
Childbirth
Communication
Conceptual models
Delivery Rooms - organization & administration
Delivery, Obstetric - nursing
Environment, Controlled
Evidence-based design
Female
Hospital Design and Construction - methods
Humans
Interior Design and Furnishings - methods
Midwifery
Midwifery - organization & administration
Models, Organizational
Nursing
Nursing Methodology Research
Patient safety
Pregnancy
Safety Management - organization & administration
Service provision
Stress
Total Quality Management - organization & administration
Women
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Summary:Recent advances in cross-disciplinary studies linking architecture and neuroscience have revealed that much of the built environment for health-care delivery may actually impair rather than improve health outcomes by disrupting effective communication and increasing patient and staff stress. This is also true for maternity care provision, where it is suggested that the design of the environment can also impact on the experiences and outcomes for birthing women. The aim of this paper is to describe the development of a conceptual model based on literature and understandings of design, communication, stress and model of care. The model explores potential relationships among a set of key variables that need to be considered by researchers wishing to determine the characteristics of optimal birth environments in relation to birth outcomes for women and infants. The conceptual model hypothesises that safe satisfying birth is reliant on the level of stress experienced by a woman and the staff around her, stress influences the quality of communication with women and between staff, and this process is mediated by the design of the birth unit and model of care. The conceptual model is offered as a starting point for researchers who have an appreciation of the complexity of birth and the ability to bring together colleagues from a range of disciplines to explore the pre-requisites for safe and effective maternity care in new ways.
ISSN:0266-6138
1532-3099
DOI:10.1016/j.midw.2010.05.015