Mobile technologies and communication strategies in an urban Midwifery Group Practice setting. An exploratory study.
BACKGROUND
Around-the-clock access to a known midwife is a distinct feature of Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) and caseload midwifery settings; although the literature suggests this aspect of working life may hinder recruitment and retention to this model of care. Mobile technologies, known as mHealth where they are used in health care, facilitate access and hence communication, however little is known about this area of midwifery practice.


OBJECTIVE
Which communication modalities are used, and most frequently, by MGP midwives and clients?


METHODS
A prospective, cross sectional design included a purposive sample of MGP midwives from an Australian tertiary maternity hospital. Data on modes of midwife-client contact were collected 24h/day, for two consecutive weeks, and included: visits, phone-calls, texts and emails. Demographic data were also collected.


RESULTS
Details about 1442 midwife-client contacts were obtained. The majority of contact was via text, between the hours of 07:00 and 14:59, with primiparous women, when the primary midwife was on-call. An average of 96 contacts per fortnight occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of contact was between the midwife and their primary clients, reiterating a key tenet of caseload models and confirming mobile technologies as a significant and evolving aspect of practice. The pattern of contact within social (or daytime) hours is reassuring for midwives considering caseload midwifery, who are concerned about the on-call burden. The use of text as the preferred communication modality raises issues regarding data security and retrieval, accountability, confidentiality and text management during off-duty periods. The development of Australian-wide guidelines to inform local policies and best practice is recommended.
Australian Catholic University, McAuley Campus, PO Box 456, Virginia, Qld 4014, Australia; Mater Research, Women's Health and Newborn Services (Maternity), Mater Health Services, Level 1, Aubigny Place, Raymond Terrace, South Brisbane, Qld 4101, Australia. Electronic address: amanda.forti@mater.org.au.
Amanda
A
Forti
Helen
H
Stapleton
Sue
S
Kildea
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D040421:Cell Phone; D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006123:Group Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology
Caseload; Continuity; MGP; Maternity; Midwifery; SMS; Text messaging; mHealth