Using research in midwifery
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Methods and relevance to practice more succinctly
- Usage of terms caseloading in midwifery and one-to-one midwifery
- Methodological approaches to qualitative research
- The usage of sampling method
- Purposive and convenience sampling
- Strategies for approaching quantitative research
- Study carried out at Edinburgh, by Simpson et al
- Probability sampling
- Overcoming issues like participant literacy
- Translating the research
- Provision of team midwifery care
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
SummaryDiscuss the importance of research within midwifery, both in terms of appreciating and evaluating available papers and how the evidence is applied to practice. Pressure has increased on health care professionals, via government directives such as the National Health Service Plan (DOH 2002) and Fitness for Practice (UKCC 1999), to provide evidence based care. These directives are aimed at improving outcomes, reducing health inequalities and increasing client satisfaction (Page, 1996). Making a Difference (DOH 1999) states that "Further research activity and systematic review within midwifery are essential to underpin both education provision and practice development. Such work will provide a strong ethos of enquiry within midwifery and facilitate a robust approach to both quantitative and qualitative research". The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2002) Code of Professional Conduct informs of the responsibility of midwives to "deliver care based on current evidence".For the purpose of this essay and in order to discuss research methods and relevance to practice more succinctly, a specific topic has been chosen for investigation. The subject is that of caseloading or one-to-one midwifery, where, as defined by Page et al (2000), a midwife will be responsible for and provide most of the care for a woman and her family for the duration of her pregnancy and into the puerperium. This subject has great relevance to practice. The provision of maternity care has undergone many changes since the middle of the last century.
The 1946 National Health Act initiated the institutionalisation of childbirth and various consecutive government reports encouraged hospital based maternity care with improved outcomes supporting the belief that childbirth was dangerous (Audit Commission, 1997). Walton and Hamilton (1995), highlighted the dissatisfaction of women and midwives with dictated midwifery care, with the wellbeing of the fetus being of primary concern.
The 1946 National Health Act initiated the institutionalisation of childbirth and various consecutive government reports encouraged hospital based maternity care with improved outcomes supporting the belief that childbirth was dangerous (Audit Commission, 1997). Walton and Hamilton (1995), highlighted the dissatisfaction of women and midwives with dictated midwifery care, with the wellbeing of the fetus being of primary concern.
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