Butler MM, Meehan TC, Kemple M, Drennan J, Treacy M, Johnson M. Identifying research priorities for midwifery in Ireland.
Midwifery 2009;
25:576-87. [PMID:
18068280 DOI:
10.1016/j.midw.2007.08.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2007] [Revised: 07/06/2007] [Accepted: 08/20/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
to identify research priorities for midwifery in Ireland in the short, medium and long term.
METHOD
a three-round Delphi survey design was used to identify midwifery research topics. Issues identified through content analysis formed Questionnaires 2 and 3. Participants rated the importance of each topic (1=low importance to 7=high importance), and a mean score of 6.0 or more was considered a priority issue. A final discussion group set short-, medium- or long-term timeframes for the research topics.
PARTICIPANTS
334 midwives were recruited from a national invitation to all midwives. Response rates were 43% (Round 1; 142/334), 85% (Round 2; 121/142) and 81% (Round 3; 98/121). Nine consumers of maternity services were included in the discussion group workshop.
FINDINGS
participants identified 11 clinical, eight management, and seven education midwifery research topics with six high-priority issues: promoting woman-centred care (management), promoting the distinctiveness of midwifery (education), satisfaction with care (clinical), care in labour (clinical), preparation for practice (clinical), and promoting research/evidence-based practice (education).
KEY CONCLUSIONS
this research sought to achieve consensus amongst a representative sample of midwives on the priorities for midwifery research in Ireland. Midwives can now select topics for graduate or other research studies of importance to practice, management and education. Funding agencies can confidently direct the allocation of national and local funding for priority areas of midwifery research within Ireland.
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