An Integrative Literature Review of Interventions Addressing Knowledge, Attitudes, and Skills of Health Team to Achieve Best Maternal Outcomes

Abstract

Background & aim: The integrative review is the methodology that provides synthesis of knowledge and its results could be applicable to practice. This is achieved by analyzing previous studies and generating new perspectives on the topic. This integrative literature review sought to review empirical and theoretical literature considering the ways in which health professionals’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes can be improved for the best maternal outcomes. Methods: Keywords were identified, and medical subject headings were used to formulate the search strategy. The search strategy was adapted according to several databases, including Academic Search Complete, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. The present review focused the period from 1996 to 2016. Review questions were designed, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined. Results: The initial search resulted in the extraction of 780 papers; however, after screening the titles, abstracts, and duplicates only 12 articles were included in the final review. Among all 12 articles, in-service training program was the main intervention to update health professionals’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes in order to achieve the best maternal outcomes. The reviewed articles focused on teaching methods, frequency or duration of the training programs, and setting of in-service training programs. Conclusion: In-service training programs can improve the quality of healthcare among nurses and midwives by increasing clinical knowledge and skills, as well as changing health professional attitudes towards a more patient-centered approach.