Abstract
BackgroundThe development of an online intervention designed to effectively support midwives in work-related psychological distress will be challenging due to the ethical, practical, and therapeutic issues surrounding its design. Related literature suggests that midwives may require an anonymous, confidential, and therapeutic platform that facilitates amnesty and nonpunitive approaches to remedy ill health. However, it is unclear which requirements may be most salient to midwifery populations.ObjectiveThe objective of this paper is to describe the design of a Delphi study, intended to achieve expert consensus on the needs of midwives in work-related psychological distress who may be supported via an online intervention. This protocol may also serve as a research framework for similar studies to be modeled upon.MethodsA heterogeneous sample of at least thirty experts on psychological well-being and distress associated with midwifery work will be recruited. Their opinions regarding the development of an online intervention designed to support midwives in work-related psychological distress will be collected through 2 rounds of questioning, via the Delphi Technique. When 60% (≥18, assuming the minimum is 30) of panelists score within 2 adjacent points on a 7-point scale, consensus will be acknowledged. This Delphi study protocol will invite both qualitative and quantitative outcomes.ResultsThis study is currently in development. It is financially supported by a full-time scholarship at the Centre for Technology Enabled Health Research at Coventry University (Coventry, UK). The implementation of this Delphi study is anticipated to occur during the autumn of 2015.ConclusionsThe results of this study will direct the development of an online intervention designed to support midwives in work-related psychological distress, summarize expert driven consensus, and direct future research.
Highlights
The mental health and well-being of health care professionals has gathered significant attention due to its direct correlation with quality patient care [1]
Their opinions regarding the development of an online intervention designed to support midwives in work-related psychological distress will be collected through 2 rounds of questioning, via the Delphi Technique
Interventions designed to support midwives in work-related psychological distress are required if the global shortage of midwives and the poor effects that midwives’ psychological distress has on patient care are to be remedied
Summary
Background The mental health and well-being of health care professionals has gathered significant attention due to its direct correlation with quality patient care [1]. Interventions designed to support midwives in work-related psychological distress are required if the global shortage of midwives and the poor effects that midwives’ psychological distress has on patient care are to be remedied. It is unclear who may be responsible for the well-being of health care staff in the United Kingdom, yet it is clear that there is a paucity of support for midwives in distress [3]. Related literature suggests that midwives may require an anonymous, confidential, and therapeutic platform that facilitates amnesty and nonpunitive approaches to remedy ill health. It is unclear which requirements may be most salient to midwifery populations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
