Some of the important basic themes that emerged related to: acquiring skills to care for a new baby; consistent advice from health professionals; continuity of care; lack of staff time; and partner involvement during the postnatal hospital stay.
The traditions and values of general medicine corroborate the intentions of palliative care [ 5, 6], e.g. in seeking a continuing relationship between patient, family and professionals, the continuity of care [ 7] and the ability to perform care in co-operation with other health professionals [ 8].
Rather than something professionals offer, continuity is an interaction between the care setting, the professionals' management of it, and patients' beliefs about and attitudes to those close to them.
The medical record is a tool for communication between multiple health professionals, facilitating continuity of care and good patient management.
Aspects of care most valued by professionals included continuity preferably characterised by the development of a relationship with the family (relational continuity) and good communication (informational continuity).
Support for healthcare professionals and continuity of care during birth is imperative to help women achieve a more positive birth experience.
The support provided by specialist health professionals, the continuity of follow-up care and the support provided by family members have been identified as critical factors [ 46].
8 15 Functional aspects relate to basic expectations about how care is delivered, such as attention to physical needs, timeliness of care, clean and safe environments, effective coordination between professionals, and continuity.
Six items meant to determine information and support from health professionals and continuity of care were answered using the following response categories: 'Completely agree'Agreeree', 'Do not agree', 'Completely disagree' and 'Do not know/Not applicable'.
One study among inpatients concluded that patients' experiences of coherence are intimately linked to their interactions with health professionals, the continuity of the dialogue and 'everyday life' in the department during hospital stays.
