Blix-Lindström Sabine, Johansson Eva, Christensson Kyllike
Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SE-171 77, Sweden.
Midwifery. 2008 Jun;24(2):190-8. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2006.12.002. Epub 2007 Feb 22.
to explore and understand how midwives perceive and experience decision-making about augmentation of labour.
focus-group discussions.
Stockholm, Sweden.
20 midwives experienced in working in labour wards.
five categories were identified that illustrate the factors considered by the midwives to influence decision-making during augmentation of labour: 'regulations and guidelines'; 'shortage of delivery rooms'; 'influence of obstetricians'; 'women in labour'; and 'midwives' professional selves'. The theme identified was how midwives managed to 'navigate' these factors, which provided midwives with a decisive influence during the decision-making process.
midwife job satisfaction can result from a sense of professional power over the possibility of navigating factors that influence decision-making during augmentation of labour. This sense of power can subsequently influence co-operation with both obstetricians and women during labour.
