Australian midwives' experiences of implementing practice change
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Midwifery
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd
School
School of Nursing and Midwifery
RAS ID
28565
Funders
Edith Cowan Early Career Researcher Grant
Abstract
Objective
The introduction of the best available evidence into health care practice is a complicated and uncertain process. Attempts to translate even highly reliable evidence into care provision are known to flounder. The objective of this study was to investigate midwives' experiences of leading practice change.
Design
This study was conducted using Glaserian Grounded Theory methodology.
Setting
Australian midwifery practice contexts provided the setting for this study.
Participants
Midwives who had led practice change initiatives.
Findings
Sixteen Australian midwife change leaders participated in this study. Each had sought to implement a workplace practice change. The core problem experienced by the participants was labelled ‘So many barriers on so many levels’.
Key conclusions
Although some participants were encouraged, supported and enabled to enact change to some degree, even when the change was initiated by the practice site, all participants experienced a number of obstacles at many levels in their implementation efforts. For most, this meant that their endeavours to move the best available evidence into practice took many years or did not progress at all.
Implications for practice
The findings of this study will be of interest to midwives, midwifery leaders and midwifery educators. Understanding the factors in midwifery care environments that support or limit the uptake of best evidence into practice will help to inform and develop midwifery context-specific mechanisms to expedite sustained practice innovation.
DOI
10.1016/j.midw.2018.12.012
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Bayes, S., Juggins, E., Whitehead, L., & De Leo, A. (2019). Australian midwives' experiences of implementing practice change. Midwifery, 70, 38-45.
Available here.