The comparison of the interpersonal action component of woman-centred care reported by healthy pregnant women in different sized practices in the Netherlands: A cross-sectional study. Issue 4 (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kuipers, Yvonne (Fontein); van Beeck, Elise; van den Berg, Linda; Dijkhuizen, Mirjam
• Is Part Of: Women and birth. Volume 34:Issue 4(2021)
• Page Start: e376
• Page End: e383
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Antenatal care -- Client perceptions -- Midwife-led care -- Midwifery -- Questionnaire -- Woman-centred care; Midwives -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Periodicals; Midwifery -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Periodicals; 618.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2020.08.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1871-5192

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The number of interventions is lower, and the level of satisfaction is higher among women who receive midwife-led primary care from one or two midwives, compared to more midwives. This suggests that midwives in small-sized practices practice more women-centred. This has yet to be explored. Objective: To examine pregnant women's perceptions, of the interpersonal action component of woman-centred care by primary care midwives, working in different sized practices. Methods: A cross-sectional study using the Client Centred Care Questionnaire (CCCQ), administered during the third trimester of pregnancy among Dutch women receiving midwife-led primary care from midwives organised in small-sized practices (1−2 midwives), medium-sized (3−4 midwives) and large-sized practices (≥5 midwives). A Welch ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction was performed to examine the differences. Results: 553 completed questionnaires were received from 91 small-sized practices/104 women, 98 medium-sized practices/258 women and 65 large-sized practices/191 women. The overall sum scores varied between 57–72 on a minimum/maximum scoring range of 15–75. Women reported significantly higher woman-centred care scores of midwives in small-sized practices (score 70.7) compared with midwives in medium-sized practices (score 63.6) ( p < .001) and large-sized practices (score 57.9) ( p < .001), showing a large effect ( d .88; d 1.56). Women reported statistically significant higher woman-centred care scores of midwives in medium-sized practices compared with large-sized practices ( p < .001), showing a medium effect ( d .69). Conclusion: There is a significant variance in woman-centred care based on women's perceptions of woman-midwife interactions in primary care midwifery, with highest scores reported by women receiving care from a maximum of two midwives. Although the CCCQ scores of all practices are relatively high, the significant differences in favour of small-sized practices may contribute to moving woman-centred care practice from 'good' to 'excellent' practice.