Table 1 An example of the search strategy used on EBSCO

Informed choice

1. (MH “Decision Making, Patient”)

2. AB “Informed choice” OR AB “informed decision making” OR AB “decision making

3. 1 OR 2

Maternity care

4. (MH “Maternal-Child Care”) OR (MH “Intrapartum Care”) OR (MH “Perinatal Care”)

5. (MH “Childbirth”) OR (MH “Pregnancy”)

6. AB “maternal health” OR AB “maternity care” OR AB childbirth OR AB birth OR AB labour OR AB “intrapartum care” OR AB “obstetric care” OR AB pregnancy

7. 4 OR 5 OR 6

Women’s experiences

8. (MH “Women”)

9. (MH “Mothers”) or (MH “Expectant Mothers”)

10. AB women N5 experiences OR AB women N5 perceptions OR AB women N5 views OR AB women N5 opinions OR AB women N5 attitudes OR AB women N5 perspectives OR AB women N5 accounts OR AB women N5 narrative OR AB women N5 story OR AB women N5 stories

11. AB mothers N5 experiences OR AB mothers N5 perceptions OR AB mothers N5 views OR AB mothers N5 opinions OR AB mothers N5 attitudes OR AB mothers N5 perspectives OR AB mothers N5 accounts OR AB mothers N5 narrative OR AB mothers N5 story OR AB mothers N5 stories

12. 8 OR 9 OR 10 OR 11

Qualitative studies

13. (MH “Qualitative Studies”)

14. AB “qualitative research” OR AB “qualitative methods” OR AB “mixed methods” OR AB interview OR AB “focus groups” OR AB diary OR AB diaries OR Ab ethnography

15. 13 OR 14

Full search

16. 3 AND 7 AND 12 AND 15