title: Norwegian midwives' perceptions of empowerment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Midwives are educated to care for women during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. For midwives to be able to fulfill their professional role they need to be empowered to do so.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate Norwegian midwives' perception of empowerment in practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study. In September 2014, a random sample of 1500 midwives was sent a questionnaire, which included the Perception of Empowerment in Midwifery Practice Scale (PEMS). Of 1458 eligible midwives, 595 (41%) completed the PEMS. Exploratory factor analyses and comparative analyses were done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exploratory factor analyses identified three factors (subscales): Supportive management, Autonomous professional role, and Equipped for practice. Midwives working in a hospital setting scored significantly lower on the factors Supportive management and Autonomous professional role compared to midwives not working in a hospital setting (p < 0.001). Midwives with extra/special responsibilities scored higher than those without (p < 0.001) on the same two factors. Midwives working at units with <2500 births scored significantly higher on all three factors compared to midwives working at units with ≥2500 births (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PEMS showed that Norwegian midwives' perception of empowerment at work differed according to midwives' education, role at work, duration of work experience, working situation and environment. This study supports the psychometric qualities of the PEMS.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College, Postbox 4 St. Olavs Plass, Oslo 0130, Norway. Electronic address: Mirjam.Lukasse@hioa.no.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lukasse
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College, Postbox 4 St. Olavs Plass, Oslo 0130, Norway.
authors.forename: Zada
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pajalic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D009664:Norway; D009721:Nurse Midwives; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011594:Psychometrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Empowerment; Midwife; Midwifery practice; PEMS