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Research conduct

Maternity care providers’ involvement in research

Half of maternity care providers in our study reported never conducting research. Participants agreed that research is important to maintain care quality. Medical staff were more likely to report feeling competent to undertake research compared to midwives.

Authors
Sam Shiplo, Sarah Meaney, Keelin O'Donoghue
Year
2020
Journal Name
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Category
Journal Article
Full Citation
Shiplo S, Meaney S, O’Donoghue K. Maternity care providers’ involvement in research. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2020;251:48-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.05.021.
Link to Publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.05.021

Abstract

Despite the importance of research for improving patient care and outcomes, research in pregnant women is lacking. We assessed maternity care providers’ involvement in research, their perception of the relevance of research, as well as facilitators and barriers to participating in research. We surveyed maternity care providers at a large tertiary-referral university-based teaching maternity hospital during May and October 2018; 145 completed the survey. Maternity care providers included, midwives, nurses, sonographers, consultant obstetricians, and non-consultant hospital doctors. Almost half (49.7%) of maternity care providers reported never taking part in conducting research. Medical staff were more likely to report being given the opportunity and to have ever conducted research compared to midwives. Participants agreed that research is important to maintain the quality of care provided to women. However, medical staff were more likely to report understanding research methodology and feeling competent to undertake research compared to midwives. The findings suggest future strategies aimed at increased opportunities and additional research training will likely support maternity care providers’, specifically midwives, involvement in conducting effective research studies in pregnancy.

Pregnancy Loss Research Group

Pregnancy Loss Research Group, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University College Cork, Fifth Floor, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Wilton, Cork, T12 YE02, Ireland,

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