Causal links to missed Australian midwifery care: What is the evidence?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The incidences and types of missed nursing care in the acute care and community sectors are both ubiquitous and quantifiable, however, there are few research studies relating to the type and frequency of missed maternity-based care for mothers and families. The aim of this study is to estimate the incidences and types of Australian missed midwifery care and to identify those factors that have causal links to it. METHODS A non-experimental, descriptive method using a Likert developed MISSCARE scale was used to ascertain consensus estimates made by Australian midwives. Electronic invitations were extended to their membership using an inclusive link to the MISSCARE survey. Inclusion criteria were all ANMF members who were midwives and currently employed within the Australian public and private healthcare systems. Data analysis was undertaken using both Rasch analysis and Structural Equation Modelling. RESULTS The type and frequency of missed Australian midwifery care can be quantified and several demographic factors are significant predictor variables for overall missed midwifery care. The most prevalent aspects of missed care in the Australian midwifery setting are midwives’ hand hygiene, supportive care, perinatal education, and surveillance type midwifery practices. CONCLUSIONS As the frequencies and types of missed midwifery care in Australia have been identified, it is possible for midwives to be mindful of minimising care omissions related to hand hygiene, providing supportive care and education to mothers as well as surveillance-type midwifery practices.

Exploring the role of communication in missed nursing care: A systematic review

“…Nurses working in obstetrics and gynaecology often missed maternal care, perhaps because they turned their attention to the newborn and ignored the mother (Haftu et al, 2019). The least commonly missed task was giving reassurances to the family, consistent with the study by Blackman, which may be because nurses helped families gain confidence in caring for their babies through emotional support (Blackman, Hadjigeorgiou, & McNeill, 2020). Nurses in departments other than obstetrics and gynaecology missed ambulation three times per day or as ordered frequently, in agreement with previous studies (Bacaksiz et al, 2020;Willis et al, 2015), which may be because assisting patient ambulation was time-consuming and difficult to do independently.…”

Predictors of missed infection control care: A tri‐partite international study

“…The World Health Organization is largely credited with the introduction of the ‘Five Moments for Hand Hygiene’ framework (Sax et al, 2007), but this study has shown that performing hand hygiene before touching a patient was missed most of all of the five moments, especially by Australian nurses although it was rarely overlooked by Lithuanian and Slovakian nurses. In another recent study, hand washing was the most missed aspect of all midwifery care as reported by Australian midwives (Blackman et al, 2020). Practising hand hygiene, which includes the use of alcohol‐based hand rub and hand washing, is one example of a simple yet effective measure to prevent the spread of highly resistant bacteria and infections in healthcare settings.…”

Linking Patient Safety Climate With Missed Nursing Care in Labor and Delivery Units: Findings From the LaborRNs Survey

“…These are consistent with the few prior studies reporting domains of perinatal care activities in maternity settings. 33,34,39,51 Treatment, procedures, and medication management are less likely to be reported as missing; on the contrary, documentation, assessments, monitoring, and emotional support during labor are commonly missed. In this study, shortages of labor and material resources were reported as the most significant reasons for why the nursing care is delayed, unfinished, or missed in maternity settings.…”