Midwifery workplace culture in Australia: A national survey of midwives.
Adult
Aged
Attitude of Health Personnel
Australia
Bullying
Female
Humans
Intention
Interviews as Topic
Middle Aged
Midwifery
/ methods
Nurse Midwives
/ psychology
Organizational Culture
Personnel Management
Pregnancy
Qualitative Research
Surveys and Questionnaires
Workload
Workplace
/ organization & administration
Attitude of health personnel
Midwifery
Organizational culture
Qualitative research
Surveys and questionnaires
Workplace culture
Journal
Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives
ISSN: 1878-1799
Titre abrégé: Women Birth
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101266131
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Sep 2020
Sep 2020
Historique:
received:
30
06
2019
revised:
11
09
2019
accepted:
25
09
2019
pubmed:
5
11
2019
medline:
20
11
2020
entrez:
3
11
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The midwifery workforce in Australia is impacted by shortages and attrition. Workplace culture affects midwives' intentions to stay in the profession and their capacity to provide woman-centred care for mothers and infants. Staff attrition in maternity services often relates to midwives' workplace experiences and negative perceptions of organisational culture. Broad-based data are essential to fully understand midwifery workplace culture. This study aimed to examine Australian midwives' perceptions of workplace culture, using a specifically developed instrument. A national online survey of Australian midwives, within a wider project on maternity workplace culture. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. Overall, 322 eligible midwives rated workplace culture and 150 provided further qualitative responses. Themes included 'the ability to be a midwife', 'support at work' and 'bullying'. Less than a third of midwives thought their workplace had a positive culture. Many respondents felt disengaged and unsupported by managers and described an inability to use all their midwifery knowledge in medically-dominated environments. Many attributed poor workplace culture to limited resources, poor communication, time pressure and a lack of leadership in their workplaces. Inadequate staffing levels and poor management left many midwives feeling disempowered and despondent about their workplace. Others, however, described highly positive workplace cultures and inspiring role models. The survey captured a snapshot of Australian midwifery workplace culture. Findings on leadership, workloads, management support and other aspects of workplace culture can inform future workforce planning and policies. A larger study of the midwifery workplace culture is needed.
Sections du résumé
PROBLEM
OBJECTIVE
The midwifery workforce in Australia is impacted by shortages and attrition. Workplace culture affects midwives' intentions to stay in the profession and their capacity to provide woman-centred care for mothers and infants.
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Staff attrition in maternity services often relates to midwives' workplace experiences and negative perceptions of organisational culture. Broad-based data are essential to fully understand midwifery workplace culture.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine Australian midwives' perceptions of workplace culture, using a specifically developed instrument.
METHODS
METHODS
A national online survey of Australian midwives, within a wider project on maternity workplace culture. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
Overall, 322 eligible midwives rated workplace culture and 150 provided further qualitative responses. Themes included 'the ability to be a midwife', 'support at work' and 'bullying'. Less than a third of midwives thought their workplace had a positive culture. Many respondents felt disengaged and unsupported by managers and described an inability to use all their midwifery knowledge in medically-dominated environments. Many attributed poor workplace culture to limited resources, poor communication, time pressure and a lack of leadership in their workplaces. Inadequate staffing levels and poor management left many midwives feeling disempowered and despondent about their workplace. Others, however, described highly positive workplace cultures and inspiring role models.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
The survey captured a snapshot of Australian midwifery workplace culture. Findings on leadership, workloads, management support and other aspects of workplace culture can inform future workforce planning and policies. A larger study of the midwifery workplace culture is needed.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31676324
pii: S1871-5192(19)30426-3
doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.09.008
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
464-472Informations de copyright
Crown Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.