Indicators sensitive to prenatal care by nurses in primary health care: scoping review

Abstract

Introduction: Prenatal care aims to track and adequately manage potential problems during pregnancy. This study is a phase of a doctoral thesis and aims to map in the literature the care provided to pregnant women in primary health care that serve as indicators of the quality of prenatal care by nurses. Materials and Methods: scoping review, based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Methodology and protocol registered in the Open Science Framework. The search was conducted in 10 databases and in two academic search engines. The findings from which indicators could be derived were classified according to the quality dimensions established by the Nursing Role Effectiveness Model (Structure, process or outcome indicators). Results: the nursing care that emerged from the 15 selected studies was presented through a synoptic table, which contained findings from which quality indicators could be derived. Discussion: The findings of this mapping identified 11 future quality indicators. The findings indicate that in order to achieve better quality prenatal care by nurses, it is necessary to systematize care in the structural, procedural and outcome dimensions. Conclusion: the mapping enabled the stratification, based on current evidence, of nursing care in prenatal care in primary care, with the potential to contribute to the development of future studies and to assist in practice scenarios that aim to improve care for pregnant women.

Keywords: Prenatal Care; Pregnant Women; Nursing; Primary Health Care; Quality Indicators, Health Care.