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Labour ward midwives' perceptions of stress
1School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|June 24, 1998
Summary
Labour ward midwives experience significant stress, primarily due to time constraints and lack of autonomy. A concerning 30% showed signs of psychiatric morbidity, highlighting stress as an occupational health issue.
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Occupational Health
- Psychology
Background:
- Midwife stress is a recognized issue impacting healthcare quality.
- Understanding the specific stressors faced by labour ward midwives is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore labour ward midwives' perceptions of workplace stress.
- To identify key stressors and their impact on midwives' well-being.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mixed-methods approach combining self-report questionnaires (McGrath et al., GHQ12) and qualitative narratives.
- Convenience sample of 43 midwives with a 77% response rate.
- Quantitative data analyzed with descriptive statistics; qualitative data underwent content analysis.
Main Results:
- 78% of midwives found insufficient time and inability to influence decisions highly stressful.
- Lack of communication among professionals was a major stressor.
- 30% of midwives scored above the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) threshold, indicating potential psychiatric morbidity.
Conclusions:
- Stress is a significant occupational health concern for labour ward midwives.
- Interventions focusing on improving multidisciplinary communication and decision-making influence are recommended.
- Developing strategies like journal clubs and social activities may mitigate stress.