Communication surrounding cesarean delivery: A secondary analysis on a qualitative study evaluating women's experiences of perceived preparedness, agency, and psychological well-being
Authors' conclusion
Perioperative communication perceived by participants to be a central, modifiable factor shaping psychological experience surrounding the delivery. Trauma-informed, anticipatory, and real-time communication, involving all medical service lines, represents a critical opportunity to improve patient-centered care and may help mitigate perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with lived experience of cesarean deliveryparticipants with lived experience of cesarean delivery
- Participants
- Twenty-two participants
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Communication-related themes
- Three domains emerged: communication gaps, communication content, and communication impact
- Participants described limited preparation for the possibility of cesarean delivery, insufficient information about intraoperative sensations and recovery, lack of partner inclusion, and few opportunities for postoperative debriefing
- Anticipatory guidance that helped patients form a mental map of the procedure and real-time explanations using shared decision-making with the anesthesiology team were some of the most valued communication experiences and were described as fostering agency
- Communication gaps were perceived by participants as shaping their psychological well-being, trust in the medical teams, sense of control, physical recovery, and early parent-infant bonding
Original publication
Communication surrounding cesarean delivery: A secondary analysis on a qualitative study evaluating women's experiences of perceived preparedness, agency, and psychological well-being. Int J Obstet Anesth. Published 5 October 2026. doi:10.
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