Examining the impact of continuity of carer for midwives and women.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the reflections/experiences of midwives and team leaders providing continuity of care alongside women who have experienced continuity of carer midwifery-led care.
IRAS ID
309549
Contact name
Sara Ahern
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 3 days
Research summary
The current research will consist of two parts: the first part will consist of reflective diaries to understand the reflections/experiences of midwives and team leaders providing continuity of carer based care for women. Midwives will be asked to complete two (identical) diaries, one a year apart from the other. Team leaders will be asked to complete four diaries over a one year period, one each quarter. The second part will consist of conducting interviews with women who have recently experienced continuity of carer based midwifery-led care before, during and after the recent birth of their baby. This qualitative research aims to understand the experiences and reflections of continuity of carer based midwives and team leaders, to identify the impact receiving continuity of carer had for the woman/family that they most recently discharged from their care. Midwives/team leaders will also be asked to reflect on their role and the level of continuity of carer that they were able to provide for this family. Amongst women who have recently been discharged from the continuity of carer service (who are 4-20 weeks post-birth), this study aims to identify their experiences of receiving continuity of carer and whether or not they received this level of care during the labour/birth of their baby/babies. This research is exploring the implementation of the continuity of carer model within midwifery care, focusing particularly on the introduction of continuity of carer provision at the labour/birth and postnatal stages of pregnancy. This stage is phase 3 of the Continuity of Carer Midwifery Project. This research is funded by the Big Lottery Community Fund and Bradford and Craven District CCG. Midwives/team leaders will be recruited from within the Trust's Women's and Newborn Unit. Women will be recruited by their midwives according to their suitability.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/YH/0072
Date of REC Opinion
24 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion