Midwives' perceptions of their role as facilitators of informed choice in antenatal screening.
OBJECTIVE
to explore midwives' perceptions of their role as facilitators of informed choice in antenatal screening.


METHODS
qualitative.


METHODS
community midwives, Yorkshire and Humber region, UK.


METHODS
community midwives offering antenatal screening (n=15).


METHODS
semi-structured interviews analysed using Thematic Analysis.


RESULTS
to facilitate informed choice, midwives highlighted both the importance and challenges of engaging in discussion with women, remaining non-directive, within tight timeframes, sometimes with women unable to communicate in English or with complex social needs.


CONCLUSIONS
midwives varied in the degree to which they believed it was their role to (1) discuss rather than just provide information and (2) to check women's understanding of the information provided. Midwives were concerned about the constraints imposed by first trimester combined screening in terms of the limited time in which they had to facilitate informed choice and the women had to make a decision about screening. To ensure that women understand the options available to them and are able to exercise an informed choice, clinical guidelines are needed that set out how midwives can actively facilitate informed screening choices without compromising patient autonomy. This is especially important given the small 'window of opportunity' within which combined first trimester screening is a viable option.
School of Medicine, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, 101 Clarendon Road, Leeds LS2 9LJ, UK. s.ahmed@leeds.ac.uk
Shenaz
S
Ahmed
Louise D
LD
Bryant
Phyllis
P
Cole
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002755:Choice Behavior; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012938:Social Perception; D006113:United Kingdom