How should a video-call service for early labour be provided? A qualitative study of midwives’ perspectives in the United Kingdom and Italy

Problem: Women in early labour are typically encouraged to delay admission to the maternity unit, but they may find this challenging without appropriate professional support. Background: Prior to the pandemic, research conducted with midwives and women showed positivity towards using video-technology for early labour, with concerns raised about privacy. Aim: To explore midwives’ perspectives on potential use of video-calls during early labour Methods: A multi-centre descriptive qualitative study was undertaken in UK and Italy. Ethical approval was gained prior to commencing the study and ethical processes were followed. Seven virtual focus groups were conducted with 36 participants, 17 midwives working in the UK and 19 midwives working in Italy. Line-by-line thematic analysis was performed and themes agreed by the research team. Findings: The findings include three main themes: 1) who, where, when and how: key aspects to consider for an effective video-call service in early labour; 2) video-call content and expected contribution; 3) potential barriers to address. Discussion: Midwives responded positively to the concept of video-calling in early labour and provided detailed suggestions on how an ideal video-call service for early labour should be provided to maximise effectiveness, safety and quality of care. Conclusion: Guidance, support and training should be provided to midwives and healthcare professionals, with dedicated resources for an early labour video-call service that is accessible, acceptable, safe, individualised and respectful for mothers and families. Further research should systematically explore clinical, psychosocial and service feasibility and acceptability.