The participants' views of childbirth education: is there congruency with an enablement framework for patient education?

Although nursing research literature in the area of patient education is rich in number, methodologies used have limited generalizability and cohesiveness. Previous theoretical work has suggested an enablement framework for patient education across content areas. This study approaches patient education from the participant's view and engages the recipients in describing their goals for the process. Seven primiparous women taking childbirth education were asked about their reasons/goals for attending, anticipated roles and tasks during the birth process, and whether or not the educational experience assisted them in meeting their self goals. Semi-structured interviews were used, with each woman being interviewed three times, allowing comparison of data across time, and pre- and post-birth. Content categories were identified, and found to be consistent across time. Implications for practice and research are provided.