Universität zu Köln

Hertle, Dagmar ORCID: 0000-0002-5645-0655, Wende, Danny ORCID: 0000-0002-0545-0807, Schumacher, Luisa and Bauer, Nicola H. ORCID: 0000-0002-7351-0832 (2022). Midwives' and women's views on digital midwifery care in Germany: Results from an online survey. Midwifery, 115. OXFORD: ELSEVIER SCI LTD. ISSN 1532-3099

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Background: Digital midwifery services were enabled for the first time in Germany from March 2020 to ensure outpatient midwifery care in times of COVID-19.Methods: In February and March 2021, a cross-sectional study with an online survey of midwives and mothers was conducted to find out to what extent digital services were offered by the midwives and used by the women, and to obtain information about the level of satisfaction and potential of digital midwifery care in pregnancy and post partum.Results: 1821 mothers of 18,784 women, who had given birth between May and November 2020 and were asked to participate in the survey, provided feedback (response rate: 9,7%). 1551 midwives responded to the call to participate in the survey and completed the questionnaire. Around one third of the responding mothers had used digital midwifery services in pregnancy and/or the postpartum period and rated these services positively by over 80%. Half of the responding midwives offered digital services and wished to continue this care option. However, not all services were considered equally suitable for digital implementation. From the respondents' point of view, classes and counselling are very well suited whereas postpartum care often requires the midwife's presence. Mothers and midwives alike saw the advantages in COVID-19 infection control and in saving time and travel. The main challenges were seen in handling IT equipment and providing high quality care despite the lack of physical examination and direct assessment of clinical findings. The mothers wished for more interactivity and networking with each other.Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a catalyst for digitalisation in midwifery care in Germany. The digital services were, mostly, well accepted and seen to usefully complement the in-person care of midwives. IT-support, guidelines and quality standards could help to optimise the digital services.(c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Hertle, Dagmar UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-5645-0655 UNSPECIFIED Wende, Danny UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-0545-0807 UNSPECIFIED Schumacher, Luisa UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bauer, Nicola H. UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-7351-0832 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-664180
DOI:	10.1016/j.midw.2022.103472
Journal or Publication Title:	Midwifery
Volume:	115
Date:	2022
Publisher:	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	1532-3099
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language EXPERIENCE; SUPPORT; PARENTS Multiple languages Nursing Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/66418