Induction of labor, an increasingly common intervention, is often
preceded by the application of an agent to “prime” or “ripen” the cervix. We conducted a
randomized controlled trial to compare clinical, economic, and psychosocial outcomes of
inpatient and outpatient cervical priming before induction of labor. In this paper we present
the psychosocial outcomes. Methods: Women participating in a randomized controlled trial
in two Australian metropolitan teaching hospitals completed questionnaires to measure
anxiety and depression at enrollment, and to examine satisfaction, experiences, depression,
and infant feeding 7 weeks after giving birth. Data analysis was by intention to treat and by
having received the intervention as intended (approximately 50% in each group). Results: Of
1,004 eligible women, 85 percent consented (n = 407, outpatient; n = 414 inpatient). No
statistically significant or clinically relevant differences were found in immediate anxiety,
depression, or infant feeding. Small, statistically significant differences favoring outpatient
priming were found in seven of the nine subscales in the 7-week postpartum questionnaire.
The direction of the effect was maintained, mostly with a larger effect size in women who
received the intervention. Conclusion: Women allocated to outpatient priming were more
satisfied with their priming experience than women allocated to inpatient priming. Being
informed that they could go home after cervical priming did not increase women’s anxiety.