Swedish midwives' awareness of, attitudes to and use of selected research findings.

Abstract

Members of a county division of the Midwives' Association of Sweden were surveyed to examine their awareness of, attitudes to and use of selected research findings. A total of 14 findings from research within the midwifery field were identified from midwives' dissertations and the journal Jordemodern using the criterion of physical availability. Questionnaires were mailed according to the membership list (n = 146). The response rate was 74% (n = 118). The results demonstrated that 75% of the midwives were aware of research findings, 65% were convinced of their usefulness and 63% used findings at least sometimes. According to the stages of Rogers' innovation-decision model the midwives were in the 'persuasion' stage, which is consistent with the result in Brett's 1987 study. The results indicate that research findings are used when midwives believe that the findings provide good care for mothers and babies. Even though the midwife in Sweden is considered to be an independent practitioner she is a member of a limiting social system. With regard to the interests influencing the health care system there is a need to examine the innovation-decision process from an organizational perspective to effectively improve the quality of care.