Design: This study used a retrospective, descriptive study using the Nurse-Midwifery Clinical Data Set.

Sample: The sample (N =510) was comprised of healthy women (37-42 weeks’ gestation) with a vertex singleton pregnancy, with an uncomplicated prenatal course, for whom a Nurse-Midwifery Clinical Data Set record existed and who delivered at the nurse midwifery faculty practice.

Variables: The study examined the relationship between patient demographics, antepartum clinical factors such as parity and substance use, and the outcome measures of mode of delivery, complications, and infant APGAR score.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Nurse-Midwifery Clinical Data Set by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, which includes items such as demographic data, antepartum and intrapartum care measures, and delivery outcomes. This instrument has been validated by comparisons with medical records as the criterion standard. All data were analyzed.

Findings: There were weakly positive correlations for maternal outcomes and factors of age and lacerations, education level and use of instrumented delivery. There were also weakly positive correlations for birth weight and BMI and the number or prenatal visits.

Conclusions: More sensitive cost and quality indicators of midwifery care need to be developed and the effect of these on outcomes needs to be elucidated. A national database that provides systematic data on nurse midwifery care as well as other obstetric care providers would be useful in providing comparative analyses and developing obstetrical best care practices.

Implications: Specific differences in the nurse-midwifery care needs to be clarified and the effect of these differences on outcomes needs to be elucidated. A national database of indicators relevant to midwifery and other obstetric providers is needed to benchmark best practices for obstetrical care.

Back to Midwifery
Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004