www.is.stir.ac.uk/nhs

Prioritising research and dissemination

The Highland Midwives STORY

KATHLEEN IRVINE*, WENDY JESSIMAN¥ AND ALISON FELCE+

*Subject Librarian, Highland Health Sciences Library,

¥ Lecturer in Midwifery Studies, University of Stirling and Supervisor of Midwives, + Staff Midwife, NHS Highland.

So what’s a librarian doing hanging out with a bunch of midwives?P

hoto

: Alis

on

Fel

ce

Photo: John P

aul Photography

Advice for beginners

• Collaborate with an experienced researcher

• Use a tried and tested methodology (even consider replicating an existing study)

The fun begins

Midwifery instruments 1900-1950

Photo: Chris Sampson

So what is a Delphi study?

• It is about achieving consensus among a group of experts

Photo: Eirik Newth

Involves several rounds of postal questionnaires and controlled feedback

Initial questionnaire asks an open

question seeking

opinions on an issue

Thematic analysis

Second questionnaire

asks experts to rank or rate the

themes

Statistical analysis: may be consensus

on some issues

Third questionnaire

feeds back results and

asks experts again to rate the themes

Statistical analysis: check

for further consensus

Sampling – what is an expert?

• What is an expert

From

JISC

Collections

Encouraging participation

• Logo• Emails, reminders, supervisors,

leads, distribution lists• Certificates• Posters x2• Personalised self-addressed

envelope• Visits to clinical areas• Support from lead midwife• Links to NHS Highland• Telephone contacts

• Facebook and Twitter• Plasma screen• Ali & Wendy• Boxes• Extended deadline• Get your Certificate posters• Area ambassadors• Article in Team Update • Facebook stickers

First questionnaire

•Please list up to five research questions/ issues/ topics of importance to midwifery practice.

Initial questionnaire asks an open

question seeking

opinions on an issue

Thematic analysis

Second questionnaire

asks experts to rank or rate the

themes

Statistical analysis: may be consensus

on some issues

Third questionnaire

feeds back results and asks experts again to rate the themes

Statistical analysis: check

for further consensus

6 blank1 all CHPs

9

1614

18

how long qualified

<3yrs

3-5 yrs

5-10 yrs

10-15 yrs

15-20 yrs

>20 yrs

blank

0 5 10 15 20 25

5

5

6

11

9

21

5

<30 yrs 30-40yrs 40-50yrs 50-60yrs over 60yrs

blank0

5

10

15

20

25

30

3

18

27

11

12

Age of midwives Average age of midwife 43

Average Retirement age 58 Av. length of service 31 years

10/5 21/ 28 42/ 42 13/ 17 2/ 2

Themes

• 329 questions/ issues/ topics were provided

• 25 themes identified• 5 themes excluded• 42 questions excluded

Initial questionnaire asks an open

question seeking

opinions on an issue

Thematic analysis

Second questionnaire

asks experts to rank or rate the

themes

Statistical analysis: may be consensus

on some issues

Third questionnaire

feeds back results and asks experts again to rate the themes

Statistical analysis: check

for further consensus

Round 2 questionnaire

Initial questionnaire asks an open

question seeking

opinions on an issue

Thematic analysis

Second questionnaire

asks experts to rank or rate the

themes

Statistical analysis: may be consensus

on some issues

Third questionnaire

feeds back results and asks experts again to rate the themes

Statistical analysis: check

for further consensus

Analysis

• Analysis identified those themes where a consensus on their importance had been reached.

• Consensus on priority status was deemed to have been achieved when the inter-quartile range was 1 (or lower) and the mean score was 4 or 5

• Consensus was achieved on four themes: workforce issues, labour second stage, obesity in pregnancy and women’s expectations.

Initial questionnaire asks an open

question seeking

opinions on an issue

Thematic analysis

Second questionnaire

asks experts to rank or rate the

themes

Statistical analysis: may be consensus

on some issues

Third questionnaire

feeds back results and asks experts again to rate the themes

Statistical analysis: check

for further consensus

Round 3

Initial questionnaire asks an open

question seeking

opinions on an issue

Thematic analysis

Second questionnaire

asks experts to rank or rate the

themes

Statistical analysis: may be consensus

on some issues

Third questionnaire

feeds back results and asks experts again to rate the themes

Statistical analysis: check

for further consensus

3

4

Round three questionnaire

Analysis

• Two additional themes achieved consensus: breastfeeding and place of birth

Initial questionnaire asks an open

question seeking opinions on an

issue

Thematic analysis

Second questionnaire

asks experts to rank or rate the

themes

Statistical analysis: may be

consensus on some issues

Third questionnaire

feeds back results and asks experts again to rate the themes

Statistical analysis: check

for further consensus

Evidence-based methodology

• Identifying the evidence• Selecting the best

evidence• Evaluating the evidence

(critical appraisal)• Reporting the findings

and quality of supporting evidence

Photo: Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden

Research and dissemination

Topics may be considered on three

levels: themes, sub-themes and questions.

Strong evidence

Dissemination

Weak evidence

Research priority

Theme

•Labour, second stage

Sub-theme

•Pushing

Question

•What are the effects of directed pushing?

But does it work here?

Pho

to: A

lison

Fel

ce

What next?

• Dissemination of existing evidence

• Dissemination of research findings

• Project report• Further research

Benefits to the library

Correspondence:

Kathleen Irvine, Subject Librarian, Highland Health Sciences Library, Centre for Health Science

k.y.irvine@stir.ac.uk