Virtual Visits in Prenatal Care: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Introduction Addressing gaps in access to prenatal care is an important step to reversing rising rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality and invites the exploration of innovative care models. This integrative review of published literature explores the patient, health care provider, and organizational experience of integrating virtual visits in prenatal care. Methods A literature search to identify original studies and quality improvement projects published between 2010 and 2020 was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar using keywords associated with both telemedicine and prenatal care. Inclusion criteria specified articles pertaining to synchronous virtual visits between pregnant patients and health care providers, and articles were excluded if visits were not pregnancy‐centric or pertaining to telemonitoring or mobile applications. Reference lists of identified reviews were screened, and a hand search of 4 applicable journals was also conducted. Findings were organized according to the factors of the social ecological model: individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy. Results The search identified 2666 articles after duplicates were removed, of which 13 met all criteria. Findings across these 13 articles indicated strong patient and health care provider satisfaction with virtual care related to cost savings and convenience, with clinic wait times and cancellation rates also improving. Health care provider input and thoughtful organizational planning were key to a smooth telemedicine implementation process. There were notably no significant differences in clinical outcomes for those who used virtual care. Discussion Although data are limited, offering an integrated model that uses both virtual visits and in‐person visits has been well‐received by patients and health care providers and could improve access to care well into the future. Virtual visits in prenatal care have been well‐received by patients and health care providers, showing promise as an emerging model for improving access to care.

Evaluating the level of patient satisfaction with telehealth antenatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic at King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Primary Health Care Center, Specialized Polyclinic

“… 26 – 33 This result showed that the high satisfaction levels of pregnant women regarding phone clinics are common and have been reported by several studies. 27 …”

“… 26 – 33 Patients indicated the time and cost reductions associated with not requiring to take time off work, organize childcare, or get transportation, consistent in rural and urban settings. 26 – 33 This result showed that the high satisfaction levels of pregnant women regarding phone clinics are common and have been reported by several studies. 27 …”

Realist inquiry into Maternity care @ a Distance (ARM@DA): realist review protocol

“…A gap remains, therefore, in understanding the conditions required for safe and acceptable DC-CON implementation and in understanding the factors that underpin variation in experience. For example: variations between women of different ethnicities (to ensure that DC-CON does not further exacerbate racial inequalities in maternity care)51; how women who face communication barriers will be supported by workers to understand their care and make choices via DC-CON16 52–55; and how access to the technologies necessary for DC-CON will vary between service users and service providers as a result of financial resources, internet connectivity, digital literacy and the digital maturity of NHS services 4 52 56. Such variation is problematic, as it is implementation in real-world contexts, at scale, that needs to be understood for the systemwide transformation as envisaged in the NHS Maternity Transformation Programme 2 21 57.…”

Promoção Da Saúde Da Mulher

“…Além disso, é interessante utilizar a telemedicina aliada a assistência presencial, principalmente no contexto de complicações na gravidez. Isso é ratificado por outras revisões como a de Montagnoli et al (2021) e Wu et al (2022) que analisam a teleassistência no pré-natal como benéfica, especialmente na conjuntura pandêmica, mas no contexto atual, em modalidade mista, contando com um vínculo presencial é melhor aceita tanto por pacientes como por profissionais.…”