Professional challenges
Our research in this area
- Factors that influence recruitment and retention in obstetrics and gynaecology
- Gender-based discrimination & sexual harassment within obstetrics & gynaecology training
- Impact of adverse events on health and allied health professionals
- Interventions to improve wellbeing
Key publications
| Category | Category | Keywords | Year | Title | Abstract | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Impact, Neonatal death, Staff support, Stillbirth | 2024 |
The impact of severe perinatal events on maternity care providers: a scoping review |
Our scoping review shows that the impact of traumatic perinatal events on maternity care providers is severe and far reaching. Not getting adequate support from their organisation was frequently mentioned and strengthened the negative impact of the event. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | 2023 |
Factors influencing medical students’ decision to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynaecology |
Clerkship experience influenced medical students’ perception of Obstetrics & Gynaecology; was more likely to be positive if they experienced direct consultant engagement and hands-on experience. Lifestyle factors, litigation and media were deterrents to considering the specialty. | More details Read publication | |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Staff support | 2023 |
The current Irish medicolegal landscape: An unsustainable trajectory |
Action is required to change the course of the currently unsustainable trajectory of the Irish medicolegal landscape. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | 2022 |
A qualitative review of challenges in recruitment and retention in obstetrics and gynecology in Ireland: The consultants’ solution based perspective |
Consultants in obstetrics and gynecology have provided solutions to the career challenges they encounter, and how they affect the recruitment and retention of doctors-in-training. Evaluation of proposed changes to recruitment and training practices is needed. | More details Read publication | |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Bereavement care, Impact, Stillbirth | 2022 |
Addressing obstetricians’ awareness of compassion, communication, and self-care when caring for families experiencing stillbirth: Evaluation of a novel educational workshop using applied drama techniques |
A novel educational workshop using applied drama techniques–developed collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including people with lived experience–is an acceptable and appropriate way of training obstetricians in how to care for bereaved parents/to engage in self-care. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Bereavement care, Neonatal death, Stillbirth | 2021 |
Maternity healthcare chaplains and perinatal post-mortem support and understanding in the United Kingdom and Ireland: An exploratory study |
Study with maternity healthcare chaplains identifies that perinatal post-mortem does not have any religious prohibition and that most maternity healthcare chaplains have been asked about perinatal post-mortem by bereaved parents. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Staff support | 2021 |
Medicine, media and the law: The effect on training in obstetrics and gynaecology |
The influence of media and the threat of litigation has a negative effect on the speciality of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, with an impact on recruitment and retention of trainees and a lack of support during specialist training. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Staff support | 2020 |
Interventions to improve wellbeing among obstetricians and midwives at Cork University Maternity Hospital |
Doctors-in-training and midwives in our study experienced high levels of burnout and compassion fatigue. End-of-shift meetings for midwives and team bonding sessions for doctors may positively impact on wellbeing, but are not feasible for implementation in their current format. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Experience, Impact, Neonatal death, Staff support, Stillbirth | 2018 |
Intrapartum fetal death and doctors: a qualitative exploration |
Obstetricians are profoundly and negatively affected by a personal involvement with an intrapartum death. Effective emotional support interventions for all obstetricians are needed. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Impact, Neonatal death, Staff support, Stillbirth | 2017 |
Healthcare professionals' response to intrapartum death: a cross-sectional study |
82% of healthcare professionals received no training in dealing with intrapartum death. 94% had no education on self-care strategies. Despite it being desired by most (80%), debriefing was offered to just 11% of healthcare professionals who were involved in an intrapartum death. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Impact, Spirituality, Stillbirth, Staff support | 2016 |
The place of faith for consultant obstetricians following stillbirth: A qualitative exploratory study |
Obstetricians experience inner conflict between their faith and professional practice when dealing with stillbirth. Study highlights an experienced incongruence between personal faith and professional practice when obstetricians are faced with the death of a baby. | More details Read publication |
|
Journal Article |
Journal Article | Bereavement care, Spirituality, Staff support, Staff training, Stillbirth | 2016 |
The provision of spiritual and pastoral care following stillbirth in Ireland: a mixed methods study |
Stillbirth is a significant challenge for maternity healthcare chaplains in their personal belief and faith as they provide care. Further specialist training and support is required for chaplains in stillbirth care. | More details Read publication |
Our people
- Professor Keelin O’Donoghue
- Marita Hennessy PhD
- Samantha Ingham
- Dr Sara Leitao
- Dr Karen McNamara
- Dr Margaret Murphy
- Dr Daniel Nuzum