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Making midwifery work visible: The multiple purposes of documentation
Bridget Kerkin1, Susan Lennox2, Jean Patterson3
1School of Midwifery - Te Kura Atawhai Ka Kaiakapono Te Hakuitaka, Otago Polytechnic - Te Kura Matatini Ki Otago, Forth Street, Private Bag 1910, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
Women and Birth : Journal of the Australian College of Midwives
|September 30, 2017
Summary
Midwifery documentation serves multiple purposes beyond clinical notes, enhancing care continuity, professional accountability, and women's experiences. Understanding these complex roles is crucial for effective record-keeping in midwifery.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Documentation
- Midwifery Practice
- Maternal Health Records
Background:
- Midwives are professionally, ethically, and legally obligated to document patient care and decisions.
- Understanding the purpose of midwifery documentation is essential for optimal practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the existing literature on the purposes of midwifery documentation.
- To identify the multifaceted roles of record-keeping in midwifery.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a literature search using CINAHL and PubMed databases.
- Supplemented database search with hand searching of reference and citation lists.
Main Results:
- No studies specifically focused on the purpose of midwifery documentation were found.
- Literature from broader healthcare fields highlighted record-keeping's role in continuity of care, communication, quality improvement, research, and professional accountability.
Conclusions:
- Midwifery documentation is complex, extending beyond clinical and legal aspects.
- Effective documentation can enhance women's maternity experiences, support midwives, improve collaboration, and aid organizational processes and research.
- Further research is needed to align documentation practices with the priorities of women and midwives.
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