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.