Deborah L Davis1, Debra K Creedy2, Zoe Bradfield3, Elizabeth Newnham4, Marjorie Atchan5, Lorna Davie6, Judith McAra-Couper7, Kristen Graham8, Christine Griffiths9, Linda Sweet10, Virginia Stulz11. 1. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, ACT Government Health Directorate and University of Canberra, Faculty of Health, 11 Kirinari St, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia. Deborah.davis@canberra.edu.au. 2. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Griffith University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD, 4331, Australia. 3. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Curtin University and King Edward Memorial Hospital, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine, Hayman Rd, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia. 4. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Griffith University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD, 4131, Australia. 5. Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, University of Canberra, Faculty of Health, 11 Kirinari St, Bruce, ACT, 2617, Australia. 6. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Ara Institute of Canterbury Ltd, 276 Antigua St, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand. 7. Midwifery Department, Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Auckland University of Technology, 640 Great South Road, Manukau, Auckland, 2025, New Zealand. 8. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Flinders University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia. 9. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Otago Polytechnic, School of Midwifery, Forth Street, Dunedin, New Zealand. 10. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Deakin University and Western Health Partnership, School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 221 Burwood Highway, , Burwood, Vic, 3125, Australia. 11. Trans-Tasman Midwifery Education Consortium, Western Sydney University & Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Court Building - Nepean Hospital, Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, PO Box 63, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Woman-centred care is recognised as a fundamental construct of midwifery practice yet to date, there has been no validated tool available to measure it. This study aims to develop and test a self-report tool to measure woman-centred care in midwives. METHODS: A staged approach was used for tool development including deductive methods to generate items, testing content validity with a group of experts, and psychometrically testing the instrument with a sample drawn from the target audience. The draft 58 item tool was distributed in an online survey using professional networks in Australia and New Zealand. Testing included item analysis, principal components analysis with direct oblimin rotation and subscale analysis, and internal consistency reliability. RESULTS: In total, 319 surveys were returned. Analysis revealed five factors explaining 47.6% of variance. Items were reduced to 40. Internal consistency (.92) was high but varied across factors. Factors reflected the extent to which a midwife meets the woman's unique needs; balances the woman's needs within the context of the maternity service; ensures midwifery philosophy underpins practice; uses evidence to inform collaborative practice; and works in partnership with the woman. CONCLUSION: The Woman-Centred Care Scale-Midwife Self Report is the first step in developing a valid and reliable tool to enable midwives to self-assess their woman-centredness. Further research in alternate populations and refinement is warranted.
BACKGROUND:Woman-centred care is recognised as a fundamental construct of midwifery practice yet to date, there has been no validated tool available to measure it. This study aims to develop and test a self-report tool to measure woman-centred care in midwives. METHODS: A staged approach was used for tool development including deductive methods to generate items, testing content validity with a group of experts, and psychometrically testing the instrument with a sample drawn from the target audience. The draft 58 item tool was distributed in an online survey using professional networks in Australia and New Zealand. Testing included item analysis, principal components analysis with direct oblimin rotation and subscale analysis, and internal consistency reliability. RESULTS: In total, 319 surveys were returned. Analysis revealed five factors explaining 47.6% of variance. Items were reduced to 40. Internal consistency (.92) was high but varied across factors. Factors reflected the extent to which a midwife meets the woman's unique needs; balances the woman's needs within the context of the maternity service; ensures midwifery philosophy underpins practice; uses evidence to inform collaborative practice; and works in partnership with the woman. CONCLUSION: The Woman-Centred Care Scale-Midwife Self Report is the first step in developing a valid and reliable tool to enable midwives to self-assess their woman-centredness. Further research in alternate populations and refinement is warranted.
Authors: Virginia M Stulz; Zoe Bradfield; Allison Cummins; Christine Catling; Linda Sweet; Rhona McInnes; Karen McLaughlin; Jan Taylor; Donna Hartz; Athena Sheehan Journal: Women Birth Date: 2021-10-14 Impact factor: 3.349