title: Views of midwives about ethical aspects of participation in placental perfusion studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known regarding the role of the midwife in recruiting mothers to participate in scientific research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe ethical aspects of participation of midwives in placental perfusion studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study involving thematic interviews and thematic content analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two university hospitals in Finland in 2008-2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Midwives (n=20) who had been involved in recruiting mothers for a placental perfusion study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Midwives felt that the situation, when inviting the mothers to donate their placentas, was restless and hasty because of the considerable number of tasks required during a birth. For recruitment, they explained how they tried their best to find a quiet opportunity to provide information about the placental perfusion study, so that the mother could take her time reading the written information. During a birth, it was difficult to give information to the mother in such a way that she would truly understand. Information for the mother was planned to be provided in an equal, dialogic conversation, with the subject of research introduced by the midwife. Placental perfusion studies as carried out in this setting were not seen to have any risks for the mothers, and midwives were under less strain in this study than in other medical research projects. The midwives considered it normal to use placentas in scientific research, and did not see any associated ethical problems. In their opinion, the use of placentas was acceptable and even desirable, provided that the mother was informed about the research and gave voluntary informed consent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recruitment must be taken into account in management of the ward, and should be planned so that no recruitment is undertaken during medical procedures. Midwives need more education about the research including the important aspects of the creation of general knowledge about substances which may harm the fetus. Dialogue is needed between the mother and the midwife to ensure genuine informed consent.
authors: Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland. arja.halkoaho@kuh.fi
authors: Arja
authors: A
authors: Halkoaho
authors: Kirsi Vähäkangas
authors: Arja
authors: A
authors: Häggman-Laitila
authors: Anna-Maija
authors: AM
authors: Pietilä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006805:Human Experimentation / Q000941:ethics; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000941:ethics; D008880:Midwifery / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*; D018579:Patient Selection / Q000941:ethics*; D010477:Perfusion / Q000941:ethics*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000941:ethics; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics*; D055815:Young Adult