Enhancing Midwifery

Investigators: Sari Holland, Rhonda Taylor, Mariann Hadland, Wendy Smyth, Cate Nagle

The primary aim of this three-phase study is to measure the impact of an Immersive Sensory Experience (ISE) in labour on the mode of birth of women using the intervention compared to those not using the intervention. The secondary aims are to: measure the impact of the ISE in labour on the following outcomes of women using the intervention compared to those not using the intervention; explore women’s experience of using ISE in labour; explore midwives’ experience of ISE.

Project status: Ethics approval, Funded Townsville Hospital Foundation, 2018.

Contact: Cate Nagle

Investigators: Amanda Ostrenski, Cate Nagle, Sari Holland, Wendy Smyth, Rhonda Taylor, Gill Harris

The aim of this study is to inform the use of the iEMR within a maternity services environment.

The objectives if this study are to:

• explore the impact of the iEMR on the relationship between the woman and her midwife
• understand the impact of the iEMR on women’s experience of care
• explore the impact of the iEMR on clinicians’ decision making and practice
• explore the impact of technology on the midwife’s autonomy in the birthing environment
• describe the advantages/disadvantages of the iEMR on safety, quality, teamwork, and efficiency of care.

Project status: Ethics approval, 2019 SERTA grant Townsville Hospital and Health service.

Contact: Cate Nagle or Gill Harris

Investigators: Cate Nagle, Jane Halliday, Taryn Charles, Lisa Hui, Helen Wright

In early pregnancy women should be offered prenatal testing for fetal abnormalities. The test options available and their consequences can often be confronting and confusing. The aim of the study is to develop and evaluate a decision aid App for prenatal testing of fetal abnormalities.  Decision aids are interventions designed to assist individuals to make specific and deliberate choices on the relative risks, benefits and consequences of available options.  There is limited research around electronic decision aids for women considering prenatal testing.

Project status: Development.

Contact: Cate Nagle

Investigators: Cate Nagle, Wendy Smyth, Shayema Khoshed, Sue Evans

The aim of this study is to conduct a scoping review to identify risk factors for women readmitted to hospital in the postnatal period. This review will inform future research on this topic

Project status: Data analysis underway.

Contact: Cate Nagle

Investigators: Karen Yates, Catherine Smith, Caryn West, Geoff Clark.

This project aims to develop a consumer influenced model of accessibility to maternity services utilising geographic information systems and consumer survey data. The model will include the physical accessibility of services, service availability, and the acceptability of the service to the population. This project will modify an existing spatial model that determines accessibility based on physical accessibility and service availability using consumer survey data that will reflect the acceptability of service. The model will be applied to Far North Queensland, an area with a high Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and many rural and remote localities.

Funding: $119,190 Queensland Health Nursing and Midwifery Fellowship.

Project status: Commencing literature review.

Contact: Dr Karen Yates