Background and aim
Government policies encourage midwives and health visitors (along with other health care professionals) to work together in delivering maternity care services. However, little is known about how and in what contexts working together takes place. This systematic review set out to summarise the current body of literature with regards to midwives and health visitors working together collaboratively in maternity services.
Research questions
1. In what ways (i.e., areas of practice/settings) do midwives and health visitors communicate and work collaboratively?
2. What methods of collaborative working and communication do midwives and health visitors employ?
3. How effective is the collaboration between midwives and health visitors?
4. Do the identified examples of communication and collaboration between midwives and health visitors adhere to policy recommendations and guidelines?
Our progress so far
Publications:
Aquino, M. R. J. V., Olander, E. K., Needle, J. J., & Bryar, R. M. (2016). Midwives’ and health visitors’ collaborative relationships: A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 62, 193-206. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.08.002 0020-7489
Select presentations:
Aquino, M. R. J. V., Olander, E. K., Needle, J. J., & Bryar, R. M (2016). A systematic review of midwife-health visitor collaborative practices. Poster presentation, UKSBM Annual Scientific Meeting, Newcastle, UK, December 8, 2015.
Aquino, M. R. J. V., Olander, E. K., Needle, J. J., & Bryar, R. M. Enablers and barriers to midwife-health visitor collaboration: Findings from a systematic review. Oral presentation, Global Network of Public Health Nursing Conference, Billund, Denmark, September 20, 2016.
Aquino, M. R. J. V., Olander, E. K., Needle, J. J., & Bryar, R. M. Midwife-health visitor communication and collaboration: A systematic review. Poster presentation, 6th Annual Postgraduate Research Symposium, City Graduate School, City, University of London, UK, March 17, 2016. Won best poster runner up prize.
Further information
The systematic review protocol is accessible via PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42015016666).
