‘What women want’: Using image theory to develop expectations of maternity care framework

Abstract Objectives to develop, in consultation with women, a theoretically-grounded framework to guide the assessment of women's maternity-care experiences. Design qualitative research was undertaken with women to examine the appropriateness of Image Theory as a heuristic for understanding how women plan and evaluate their maternity-care experiences. Setting maternity-care services in metropolitan and regional communities in Western Australia. Outcomes an Episodes of Maternity Care Framework grounded in Image Theory was established that addressed various domains of women's perceptions and expectations of their maternity-care experience. Conclusions previously-identified weaknesses of methods used to measure patient satisfaction were addressed and a valid framework for investigating women's perception of their maternity-services experiences was developed. This framework has the potential to contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of maternity-care service.