Methods
Criteria for considering studies for this review
Types of studies
We considered all randomised controlled trials of the effects of antenatal breast examination, with a concurrent comparison group, for inclusion. We excluded quasi-randomised controlled trials, in which allocation was, for example, by alternation or reference to case record number or to dates of birth.
Types of participants
All pregnant women attending antenatal care at least once.
Types of interventions
Breast examination, for any purpose, conducted at least once during an antenatal care visit, compared with 'usual' care (that is, that which does not include antenatal breast examination).
Types of outcome measures
The primary outcome measure is the rate of breastfeeding initiation in all pregnant women after birth (as defined by trial authors).
Secondary outcomes include:
success of breastfeeding (defined as any breastfeeding at four to six weeks after birth);
duration of exclusive breastfeeding ('exclusive' as defined by trial authors);
discontinuation of breastfeeding;
satisfaction with breastfeeding;
preterm labour and delivery (prior to 37 weeks);
maternal anxiety;
satisfaction with care;
satisfaction with breast examination;
knowledge about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding;
additional breast examinations undertaken;
detection of breast anomalies (for example, breast cancer, flat/inverted nipples);
referrals for diagnostic tests (for example, biopsy, scan).
Search methods for identification of studies
Electronic searches
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trials Register by contacting the Trials Search Co-ordinator (March 2008).
The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trials Register is maintained by the Trials Search Co-ordinator and contains trials identified from:
1. quarterly searches of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL);
2. weekly searches of MEDLINE;
3. handsearches of 30 journals and the proceedings of major conferences;
4. weekly current awareness alerts for a further 44 journals plus monthly BioMed Central email alerts.
Details of the search strategies for CENTRAL and MEDLINE, the list of handsearched journals and conference proceedings, and the list of journals reviewed via the current awareness service can be found in the ‘Specialized Register’ section within the editorial information about the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group.
Trials identified through the searching activities described above are each assigned to a review topic (or topics). The Trials Search Co-ordinator searches the register for each review using the topic list rather than keywords.
We did not apply any language restrictions.
Data collection and analysis
We identified no randomised controlled trials. If we identify trials in the future, we plan to collect and analyse data as described in Appendix 1.
Results
Description of studies
We identified no randomised controlled trials from the search strategy .
Risk of bias in included studies
We identified no randomised controlled trials from the search strategy.
Effects of interventions
We identified no randomised controlled trials from the search strategy.