title: Midwives' perception of their role in providing antenatal asthma management in Australia--a qualitative study.
abstract: International guidelines recommend a collaborative approach to the care of pregnant women with asthma. Midwives, as the primary health care provider for childbearing women should be viewed as collaborative partners in the provision of antenatal asthma management. However, the role of the midwife in providing antenatal asthma management has not been widely reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Australian midwives' perceived role in antenatal asthma management was studied using a qualitative descriptive method. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 midwives working in a regional tertiary hospital. Morse and Field's four-stage process was used to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the perceived role of the midwife in antenatal asthma management varied among participants. Some midwives stated their role was to refer women on to other health professionals. Other midwives stated that they should provide education to the women regarding their asthma management during their pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  participants were uncertain about their role and lacked confidence in antenatal asthma management. The midwifery context in which they worked and the resources available to them at this health care facility appeared to influence the perception of their role.
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Australia. Electronic address: Karen.McLaughlin@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Australia. Electronic address: Ashley.Kable@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kable
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Australia. Electronic address: Lyn.Ebert@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Australia; Centre for Asthma and Respiratory Diseases, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Australia. Electronic address: Vanessa.Murphy@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Antenatal; Asthma; Management; Midwives׳; Role