Research priorities of NSW midwives

Area of Science:

• Maternal and Child Health
• Nursing and Midwifery Research

Background:

• Effective health outcomes for families depend on robust research.
• Limited Australian research data exists for current midwifery practice.
• Setting research priorities is crucial for resource allocation and evidence-based practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the perceived research priorities of midwives in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
• To assess the research experience of midwives in NSW.
• To inform the National Health and Medical Research Council's priority for a healthy start to life.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire was distributed in March 2005 to 1000 subscribers of Australian Midwifery.
• The survey targeted midwives, with 900 identified as practicing midwives.
• Key open-ended questions were used to gather data on research priorities and experience.

Main Results:

• Respondents were predominantly practicing midwives (95%).
• Six priority research areas were identified: professional practice, clinical issues, education and support, breastfeeding, psychosocial factors, and rural/indigenous issues.

Conclusions:

• Research priorities for midwifery practice in NSW were established.
• A strong need for integrating research into professional midwifery practice was highlighted.
• Midwives are receptive to increased involvement in research and advocating for evidence-based practice.