A mixed-methods stress audit with midwives in the United Kingdom.

Autor: Anchors ZG; School of Health and Social Wellbeing, University of the West of England, BS16 1DD, UK. Electronic address: zoe.anchors@uwe.ac.uk., Moore LJ; Department for Health, Claverton Down, University of Bath, Bath, England BA2 7PB, UK., Burnard SD; Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park Bath, England BA1 3NG, UK., Bressington CA; Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park Bath, England BA1 3NG, UK., Moreton AE; Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park Bath, England BA1 3NG, UK., Arnold R; Department for Health, Claverton Down, University of Bath, Bath, England BA2 7PB, UK.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives [Women Birth] 2024 Sep; Vol. 37 (5), pp. 101639. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 04.
DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101639
Abstrakt: Problem: UK midwives report high work-related stress, which can negatively impact their health and wellbeing, with many considering leaving the profession.
Background: An occupational stress audit guides the implementation of stress management intervention, by identifying which stressors have the most negative impact and why, and highlighting "at risk" groups.
Aim: To conduct a concurrent mixed-methods stress audit with UK midwives in an NHS Trust.
Methods: Seventy-one midwives (M age = 39 years, SD = 11) completed a survey assessing stressors (e.g., relationships), stress appraisals (i.e., challenge vs. threat), coping strategies (e.g., avoidance-focused), and outcomes (i.e., mental health, performance, and intention to leave). Ten midwives (M age = 42 years, SD = 10) participated in semi-structured interviews.
Findings: Quantitative data revealed that more work-related demands, poorer peer support and relationships, and threat appraisals predicted worse mental health. Moreover, less control and more work-related demands predicted poorer performance, while less control, poorer manager support, more change-related demands, and threat appraisals predicted greater intention to leave. Qualitative data generated three themes: organisational pressures exacerbated by unexpected changes; individualised responses but largely debilitative emotions; and personal coping and power of social support.
Discussion and Conclusion: This study offered a comprehensive and novel insight into the stress experiences of UK midwives, highlighting targets for future stress management interventions, including key stressors (e.g., manager support), underlying mechanisms (e.g., stress appraisals), and "at-risk" groups (e.g., night shift workers). Practical recommendations are provided for stakeholders operating at multiple levels (e.g., midwife, trust, policy) to better support midwives with work-related stress.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: