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Self-reported exposure to severe events on the labour ward among Swedish midwives and obstetricians: A cross-sectional retrospective study
- Source :
- International Journal of Nursing Studies. 65:8-16
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Background The process of delivery entails potentially traumatic events in which the mother or child becomes injured or dies. Midwives and obstetricians are sometimes responsible for these events and can be negatively affected by them as well as by the resulting investigation or complaints procedure (clinical negligence). Objective To assess the self-reported exposure rate of severe events among midwives and obstetricians on the delivery ward and the cumulative risk by professional years and subsequent investigations and complaints. Design Cross-sectional survey. Participants Members of the Swedish Association of Midwives (SFB) and the Swedish Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SFOG). Methods A questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, experiences of self-reported severe events on the delivery ward, and complaints of medical negligence was developed. Potential consequences of the complaint was not reported. A severe event was defined as: 1) the death of an infant due to delivery-related causes during childbirth or while on the neonatal ward; 2) an infant being severely asphyxiated or injured at delivery; 3) maternal death; 4) very severe or life threatening maternal morbidity; or 5) other stressful events during delivery, such as exposure to violence or aggression. Results The response rate was 39.9% (n=1459) for midwives and 47.1% (n=706) for obstetricians. Eighty-four percent of the obstetricians and almost 71% of responding midwives had experienced one or more self-reported severe obstetric event with detrimental consequences for the woman or the new-born. Fourteen percent of the midwives and 22.4% of the obstetricians had faced complaints of medical negligence from the patient or the family of the patient. Conclusions A considerable proportion of midwives and obstetricians will, in the course of their working life, experience severe obstetric events in which the mother or the new-born is injured or dies. Preparedness for such exposure should be part of the training, as should managerial and peer support for those in need. This could prevent serious consequences for the health care professionals involved and their subsequent careers.
- Subjects :
- Adult
medicine.medical_specialty
Poison control
Midwifery
Suicide prevention
Occupational safety and health
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Obstetrics and gynaecology
Pregnancy
Occupational Exposure
Injury prevention
medicine
Humans
Childbirth
030212 general & internal medicine
General Nursing
Aged
Retrospective Studies
Sweden
Response rate (survey)
030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine
business.industry
Malpractice
Infant, Newborn
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Obstetric Labor Complications
Obstetrics
Cross-Sectional Studies
Family medicine
Female
Maternal death
Self Report
Medical emergency
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00207489
- Volume :
- 65
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Nursing Studies
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....dc02cc2a16e5fc860d93e8bfe8e8e261
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.10.009