An ethnographic exploration of labour ward midwives’ accessing and using of information for practice.

Aims: This study is an ethnographic exploration of how midwives access and use information whilst giving care in the high risk labour ward.  The study aims to explore midwives’ identification of their information needs, what sources and types of information midwives use, how midwives use information and what facilitates and inhibits information access.

Background: Care quality benchmarking, the increasing complexity of women using maternity services and professional standards indicate that individual midwives are now under ever increasing pressure to perform to a high standard.  As the volume of information available to midwives is increasing exponentially, this would suggest that midwives need to access information to deliver excellent care to women.  This study explores the information behaviour of midwives in the labour ward environment as an understanding of how midwives access and use information may give valuable insight into the most effective and usable form of information.

Method and analysis: Ethnographic observation and interview was used.  The data was analysed using thematic analysis.  Observational and interview data were coded together for a seamless approach and depth of findings.  Findings have been written up for the final thesis.

Project finish: The study is of value as it may highlight how midwives access and use information, which in turn will enable more effective access of use of information by midwives.   When the thesis is complete the findings will be appropriately disseminated via publication and conference to the wider midwifery community in 2014 and 2015.  Recommendations for practice and for future research will be made at this time along with implementation plans for clinical practice.