TY - JOUR
T1 - Satisfaction with team midwifery care for low- and high-risk women
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Biró, Mary Anne
AU - Waldenström, Ulla
AU - Brown, Stephanie
AU - Pannifex, Jan H.
PY - 2003/3/1
Y1 - 2003/3/1
N2 - Background: In 1996 a new model of maternity care characterized by continuity of midwifery care from early pregnancy through the postpartum period was implemented for women attending Monash Medical Centre, a tertiary level obstetric service, in Melbourne, Australia. This study's purpose was to assess the impact of this model on women's views and experiences of care during the antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods compared with views of women receiving standard maternity care. Methods: One thousand low- and high-risk women who booked at the antenatal clinic and met the eligibility criteria were randomly allocated to continuity of midwifery care from a group of seven midwives in collaboration with medical staff, or to standard care from a variety of midwives and medical staff. Women's views of care were measured by means of a postal questionnaire at four months after the birth. Results: Team midwifery care was associated with increased satisfaction with antenatal, intrapartum, and some aspects of postpartum care. The differences were most obvious for antenatal care. Conclusions: Continuity of midwifery care is realistically achievable in a tertiary obstetric referral service and is associated with increased satisfaction.
AB - Background: In 1996 a new model of maternity care characterized by continuity of midwifery care from early pregnancy through the postpartum period was implemented for women attending Monash Medical Centre, a tertiary level obstetric service, in Melbourne, Australia. This study's purpose was to assess the impact of this model on women's views and experiences of care during the antenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum periods compared with views of women receiving standard maternity care. Methods: One thousand low- and high-risk women who booked at the antenatal clinic and met the eligibility criteria were randomly allocated to continuity of midwifery care from a group of seven midwives in collaboration with medical staff, or to standard care from a variety of midwives and medical staff. Women's views of care were measured by means of a postal questionnaire at four months after the birth. Results: Team midwifery care was associated with increased satisfaction with antenatal, intrapartum, and some aspects of postpartum care. The differences were most obvious for antenatal care. Conclusions: Continuity of midwifery care is realistically achievable in a tertiary obstetric referral service and is associated with increased satisfaction.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037336311&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1523-536X.2003.00211.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1523-536X.2003.00211.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 12581034
AN - SCOPUS:0037336311
VL - 30
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Birth
JF - Birth
SN - 0730-7659
IS - 1
ER -