A survey of midwives' attitudes to, and involvement in, research: the first stage in identifying needs for a staff development programme.

Despite top-down directives in the UK to increase the research base of various of the paramedical professions, there is some evidence to suggest that there remains a serious shortfall in published research in these domains. Until this is increased, much clinical practice will continue to be founded on time-honoured tradition rather than on empirical evidence. Of special concern to the present study is the situation within midwifery. To investigate possible reasons for the limited research output in this area, a national questionnaire survey of 550 randomly selected midwives was undertaken. The questionnaire comprised sections on biographical/occupational details and research activities, together with a 13-item attitude-to research scale. The responses were analysed using techniques of descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings suggest that a major reason for the low overall publication rate was not a failure to undertake research in the first place, but instead, a reluctance to submit the findings for publication. This reluctance seemed to be a function of a prevailing diffidence amongst the majority of respondents. The findings are interpreted within a context of developing future staff training programmes.