AUT - Midwifery and Women's Health Research: Overview of Projects & Publications
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Midwifery and Women's Health Research: Overview of Projects & Publications
Our current project
Improving Health Care Interventions for Mothers with Physical & Sensory Disabilities
This is a national study and is funded by the HRC. It involves interviewing mothers who have disabilities, and health professionals, regarding disability and pursuing motherhood. The study aims to identify strategies that will improve health care interventions for mothers with physical, and sensory disabilities.
The research team consists of two disability advisors: Dr Huhana Hickey & Bronwyn Hayward. Co-principal investigators: Prof Kathryn McPherson & Dr Debbie Payne. Reseach members: Ruth Desouza, Dr Cindy Farqhuar, Dr Lynne Giddings, Dr Matire Harwoodand Dr Dianne Roy. Research Officer: Bernadette Guerin
For further information please contact Dr Debbie Payne: debbie.payne@aut.ac.nz or Bernadette Guerin: bernadette.guerin@aut.ac.nz
List of completed projects
Warkworth Birthing Centre. An appreciative Inquiry
In a time of decreasing numbers of normal births, increasing use of intervention during labour and birth and high midwifery turnover, the Warkworth Birthing Centre exemplifiCetrnre es the vision of the Ministry of Health Maternity Action Plan 2008-2012 (Draft) towards women experiencing pregnancy and motherhoods as normal life events with confidence in their ability to give birth. Using an appreciative inquiry methodology the research identified the strategies, factors and influences that help achieve sustainable excellence that is Warkworth Birthing Centre. 28 women, comprising mothers, midwives, directors and a Trust member, were interviewed for the purpose of the research.
Completed: November 2008
Researchers: Assoc Prof Liz Smythe & Dr Deborah Payne, in collaboration with Sally Wilson & Sue Wynyard, Warkworth Birthing Centre Directors
The report can be viewed here.
Please contact Dr Liz Smythe for further information: liz.smythe@aut.ac.nz or (09) 921 9999 ext 7196
Managing Multiple Sclerosis & Motherhood
This project was funded by the NZ Families Commission and explored the experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood for mothers who had Multiple Sclerosis.
Completed May 2007
Principal Investigator: Dr Debbie Payne
Co Investigators: Professor Kathryn McPherson & Susan Crerar
Copies of the report can be downloaded from the Families Commission website
An Oral History of Midwives' Practice 1970-2000
This project had two main purposes. The main aim was to record the voice and experience of the generation of midwives who practiced between 1970-2000. The second aim was to explore very experienced midwives' informal practice knowledge. Research outcomes to date include a conference presentation. Future intended outputs include the submission of the tapes to the National Library Oral History Centre, a research report, possible journal articles and further conference presentations.
Completed 2006
Principal Investigator: Jackie Gunn
Research Officer: Sue Berman
Infant Feeding and Work
This collaborative study was awarded funding from the Division of Health Care Practice and the Faculty of Health & Environmental Sciences Contestable Research Funds. Two community groups collaborated with the CMWHR: Women's Health Action and La Leche League. The study identifed the factors that influence mothers' decision-making regarding returning to work and feeding their babies. Our findings have been published in Breastfeeding Review, New Zealand La Leche League journal, and the Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Principal Investigator: Dr Debbie Payne in collaboration with Louise James, Barbara Sturmfels, Beatrice Leatham & Mele Siakumi. Research Officer: Sue Berman
Caring for Clients Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Fertility nurses play an important role in caring for clients who are undergoing ART procedures such as in vitro fertilisation, intra uterine insemination and donor egg. This study explored the special roles, skills and responsibilities that fertility nurses have when working in this specialised, technological and emotive area. Findings have been published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing & the Australian Nursing Journal. The study was made possible with funding from NZNO's Nursing & Education Research Fund & AUT's Faculty of Health & Environmental Contestable Resarch Funds.
Completed 2006
Principal Investigator: Dr Debbie Payne
Student's perspectives: How do midwives keep birth normal?
The New Zealand College of Midwives Handbook for Practice (2002) states that "The midwife promotes and supports the normal childbirth process". Thus, a part of the role of the midwife is to keep birth 'normal'. As a part of AUT's Bachelor in Health Science (Midwifery), students undertake a normal childbirth paper that has theoretical and clinical components. During the clinical component students work with midwives who are facing the challenge of keeping birth normal whilst intervention rates are rising. There is little literature in relation to students' perspectives of a definition of normal birth and midwifery practice and how they see midwives keep birth normal.
Focus groups were used to uncover 3rd year Direct Entry and Registered Nurse to Registered Midwifery students perspectives on how midwives keep birth normal. This study sought midwifery students' definitions of normal birth and recorded their observations of how midwives practice in keeping birth 'normal'. Students uncovered an understanding of the complexity of the socio political influences that inform the defining process. Their definition of 'normal birth' may be considered 'ideal' against an observed reality, where the definition of 'normal birth' is influenced by who defines 'normal' and what counts as intervention. The study also asked students what they felt midwives do to keep birth normal, and factors that help and hinder midwives in keeping birth normal. The findings from this qualitative research study will be useful for both education and professional practice internationally.
Investigators: Nimisha Waller, Andrea Gilkison, Dawn Holland, Judith McAra Couper
Research Officer: Sue Berman.
Monograph of a Practice: The Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Midwifery Group Practice - An Evaluation Perspective
This monograph tells the story of a midwifery group practice, its beginnings and some of the day-to-day events over a two-year period in its twelve-year history, prior to closure in mid-2002. Established within the School of Nursing and Midwifery, the AUT midwifery practice earned a reputation for quality midwifery care, whilst providing opportunities for staff to maintain currency in practice, good role modelling for students and opportunities for students to practice clinically.
The key reasons for undertaking the evaluation were to consider the practice's sustainability and explore some of the midwifery skills used by practitioners. Material was gathered by three researchers, who undertook face-to-face interviews with midwives from the practice, women who used the services, students and management as well as statistical analyses of infant birth outcomes for the years 2000-2001.
Completed: March 2004.
Principal Investigator: Dr Anne Barlow
Research Officers: Sue Berman, Michele Lennan
Introducing the Review Process for District Health Board Midwives
These researchers are committed to the development of sound quality assurance and improvement programmes for midwives working in hospital environments that will encourage reflection and promote and support safe quality practice for women and families receiving midwifery care.
Researchers from the Centre for Midwifery and Women's Health Research have collaborated with Counties Manakau Women's Health to determine the perspectives of DHB-employed midwives, management and other key stakeholders, as this review process, which was previously used for self-employed midwives, is being introduced for DHB-employed midwives.
This evaluation represents the experiences of midwives and management at Women's Health, Counties Manukau District Health Board (DHB), who are involved in the planning, participation in, and implementation of the New Zealand College of Midwives Standards Review process for DHB employed midwives.
Principal Investigator: Dr Anne Barlow
Research Officer: Michele Lennan
Publications
Smythe, L., Payne, D., Wilson, D., & Wynyard, S. (2008). Warkworth Birthing Centre: An appreciative inquiry. Auckland: AUT University and Warkworth Birthing Centre.
Payne, D. (2007). The roles of nurses working in ART. Australian Nursing Journal. 15(3), 38.
Payne, D., McPherson, K & Crerar, S. (2007). Managing Multiple Sclerosis & Motherhood. Families Commission. Wellington.
Payne, D, Berman, S, Sturmfels, B., James, L, Leatham, B., Siakumi, M & Van Der Pol, V. (2006). Women’s experiences of infant feeding and returning to work: An overview of the findings. Breastfeeding Communique, 3, 23–26.
Payne, D. (2006). “Elderly primigravidas”: Mothers’ experiences. NZ Childbirth Education Association Journal, 2, 7– 10.
Arthur, D. & Payne, D. (2005). Maternal request for an elective caesarean section. New Zealand Collge of Midwives. October. 33, 17 - 20.
Gilkison, A., Holland, D., Berman, S., McAra-Couper, J., Waller, N., Gunn, J., & Lennan, M., (2005). Defining normal birth: A student perspective. New Zealand College of Midwives Journal, 32, 11 - 23.
Barlow, A., Hunter, M., Conroy, C., Lennan, M. (2004). An evaluation of the midwifery services at a New Zealand community maternity unit. New Zealand College of MIdwives. 31, 7 - 11.
Gilkison, A. (2004). Problem-based learning tutor exercise: The need for different questions. Medical education, 38, 925 - 926
Payne, D. (2004). Recognising complexity and contradiction. Nursing Praxis in New Zealand. 20 (3), 13 - 20.
Vague, S. (2004). Midwives experiences of working with women in labour: Interpreting the meaning of pain. New Zealand College of MIdwives. 31, 22 - 26.
Barlow, A (2004) Evaluation research: using comprehensive methods for improving healthcare practices. Royal College of Midwives: Evidence Based Midwifery, 2 (1), 4-7
Diekelmann, N., & Gunn, J. (2004). Teachers going back to school: Being a student again. Journal of Nursing Education, 43 (7), 293-296.
Barlow, A., Berman.,S. & Koziol-McLain, J. (2004). Evaluation of a Family Violence Prevention Education Programme for Midwives. Auckland: Auckland University of Technology
Barlow, A., Hunter, M., Lennan,M. & Conroy, C. (2003) An Evaluation of the Midwifery Services at Papakura Maternity Unit. Auckland: Auckland University of Technology
Gilkison, A. (2003) Techniques used by 'expert' and 'non-expert' tutors to facilitate problem-based learning tutorials in an undergraduate medical curriculum.
Medical Education 37 (1), 6-14.
Barlow, A., Hardie, A., Holland, D., Hunter, M., McAra-Couper, J.,& Berman, S. (2002). Midwifery decision-making and management of the 3rd stage of labour. New Zealand College of Midwives Journal 27, pp.23-29
Hunter, M (2003). Autonomy, clinical freedom and responsibility. In M. Kirkham (Ed.), Birth Centres: A Social Model for Maternity Care. London: Books for Midwives.