The effect of nursing interventions in women with gestational hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders are significant global causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Quality nursing care is essential for pregnant women with hypertension to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. This study aimed to systematically synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of nursing interventions for women with gestational hypertension. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Literature was searched across seven electronic databases from August 1 to September 27, 2023. Thirteen studies, encompassing 1458 women with gestational hypertension, were included. Quality assessment indicated that 10 randomized controlled trials were rated as good, one as fair, and all quasi-experimental studies as good quality. Various nursing interventions were analyzed, including training programs, home-based comprehensive nursing, case management, vascular symptom management, music therapy, and clinical nursing pathways. Meta-analysis results revealed that nursing interventions significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, depression, and hospital length of stay. These findings suggest that nursing interventions can effectively improve health outcomes for women with gestational hypertension, positively impacting at least one outcome in all included studies.