OBJECTIVE: A partnership caseload model of midwifery-led practice was developed and introduced as an option of maternity care for low risk women at our local health service. To assess the benefits of this new practice model, aspects of continuity, choice, control and satisfaction were examined in women receiving Primary Health Midwifery Care (PHMC) and standard hospital care (SHC). DESIGN AND SETTING: A descriptive comparative design was used and survey data were collected using a modified version of the Mason Survey of Womens' Experience of Maternity Care from a convenience sample of women receiving PHMC (n = 357) and SHC (n = 202) from a large metropolitan health service. FINDINGS: Overall, more women receiving PHMC experienced key aspects of women-centered care-choice, control and continuity than women receiving SHC. KEY CONCLUSIONS: This study, within the limitations of its design and sample size, confirms that low risk women have positively responded to partnership caseload midwifery practice, and the practice model has supported women-centred care with special benefits for primipara women.
OBJECTIVE: A partnership caseload model of midwifery-led practice was developed and introduced as an option of maternity care for low risk women at our local health service. To assess the benefits of this new practice model, aspects of continuity, choice, control and satisfaction were examined in women receiving Primary Health Midwifery Care (PHMC) and standard hospital care (SHC). DESIGN AND SETTING: A descriptive comparative design was used and survey data were collected using a modified version of the Mason Survey of Womens' Experience of Maternity Care from a convenience sample of women receiving PHMC (n = 357) and SHC (n = 202) from a large metropolitan health service. FINDINGS: Overall, more women receiving PHMC experienced key aspects of women-centered care-choice, control and continuity than women receiving SHC. KEY CONCLUSIONS: This study, within the limitations of its design and sample size, confirms that low risk women have positively responded to partnership caseload midwifery practice, and the practice model has supported women-centred care with special benefits for primipara women.
Authors: Helen L McLachlan; Della A Forster; Mary-Ann Davey; Judith Lumley; Tanya Farrell; Jeremy Oats; Lisa Gold; Ulla Waldenström; Leah Albers; Mary Anne Biro Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2008-08-05 Impact factor: 3.007