Factors associated with midwives' job satisfaction and experience of work: a cross-sectional survey of midwives in a tertiary maternity hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
Job satisfaction
Midwife
Midwifery
Professional role
Workforce
Workplace
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:
Mar 2022
Mar 2022
Historique:
received:
22
12
2020
revised:
25
02
2021
accepted:
28
03
2021
pubmed:
4
5
2021
medline:
19
3
2022
entrez:
3
5
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Significant factors affecting the Australian maternity care context include an ageing, predominantly part-time midwifery workforce, increasingly medicalised maternity care, and women with more complex health/social needs. This results in challenges for the maternity care system. There is a lack of understanding of midwives' experiences and job satisfaction in this context. To explore factors affecting Australian midwives' job satisfaction and experience of work. In 2017 an online cross-sectional questionnaire was used to survey midwives employed in a tertiary hospital. Data collected included characteristics, work roles, hours, midwives' views and experiences of their job. The Midwifery Process Questionnaire was used to measure midwives' satisfaction in four domains: Professional Satisfaction, Professional Support, Client Interaction and Professional Development. Data were analysed as a whole, then univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses conducted to explore any associations between each domain, participant characteristics and other relevant factors. The overall survey response rate was 73% (302/411), with 96% (255/266) of permanently employed midwives responding. About half (53%) had a negative attitude about their Professional Support and Client Interaction (49%), and 21% felt negatively about Professional Development. The majority felt positively regarding Professional Satisfaction (85%). The main factors that impacted midwives' satisfaction was inadequate acknowledgment from the organisation and needing more support to fulfil their current role. Focus on leadership and mentorship around appropriate acknowledgement and support may impact positively on midwives' satisfaction and experiences of work. A larger study could explore how widespread these findings are in the Australian maternity care setting.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Significant factors affecting the Australian maternity care context include an ageing, predominantly part-time midwifery workforce, increasingly medicalised maternity care, and women with more complex health/social needs. This results in challenges for the maternity care system. There is a lack of understanding of midwives' experiences and job satisfaction in this context.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
To explore factors affecting Australian midwives' job satisfaction and experience of work.
METHODS
METHODS
In 2017 an online cross-sectional questionnaire was used to survey midwives employed in a tertiary hospital. Data collected included characteristics, work roles, hours, midwives' views and experiences of their job. The Midwifery Process Questionnaire was used to measure midwives' satisfaction in four domains: Professional Satisfaction, Professional Support, Client Interaction and Professional Development. Data were analysed as a whole, then univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses conducted to explore any associations between each domain, participant characteristics and other relevant factors.
FINDINGS
RESULTS
The overall survey response rate was 73% (302/411), with 96% (255/266) of permanently employed midwives responding. About half (53%) had a negative attitude about their Professional Support and Client Interaction (49%), and 21% felt negatively about Professional Development. The majority felt positively regarding Professional Satisfaction (85%). The main factors that impacted midwives' satisfaction was inadequate acknowledgment from the organisation and needing more support to fulfil their current role.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Focus on leadership and mentorship around appropriate acknowledgement and support may impact positively on midwives' satisfaction and experiences of work. A larger study could explore how widespread these findings are in the Australian maternity care setting.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33935006
pii: S1871-5192(21)00048-2
doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2021.03.012
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e153-e162Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.