20 research outputs found
Evaluation of a web-based intervention to optimize perinatal emotional wellbeing: A nested case-control study
Get PDFBackground/Objective: WazzUp Mama© is a remotely delivered web-based tailored intervention to prevent and reduce perinatal emotional distress, originally developed in the Netherlands. The current study aimed to evaluate the adapted WazzUp Mama© intervention in a Flemish (Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) perinatal population. Methods: A 1:3 nested case-control study was performed. A data set including 676 participants (169 cases/507 controls) was composed based on core characteristics. Using independent t-test and chi-square, the two groups were compared for mean depression, self and perceived stigma, depression literacy scores, and for positive Whooley items and heightened depression scores. The primary analysis was adjusted for covariates. Results: The number of positive Whooley items, the above cut-off depression scores, mean depression, perceived stigma, and depression literacy scores showed statistically significant differences between cases and controls, in favor of the intervention group. When adjusting for the covariates, the statistically significant differences between cases and controls remained for depression, perceived stigma, and depression literacy, for the positive Whooley items and for above cut-off depression scores. Conclusion: WazzUp Mama© indicates to have a moderate to large positive effect on optimizing perinatal emotional wellbeing, to positively change perceived stigma and to increase depression literacy
The effect of a web-based intervention on perinatal emotional wellbeing and coping: A nested case-control study
Get PDFA multi-actor perspective of humanised midwifery care excellence: An exploratory survey
Get PDFHumanised midwifery care is a fundamental human right and need. This exploratory online survey presents a collective perception of meaningful standards of humanised midwifery care for excellent daily practice obtained from an international multi-actor group of maternity service users and providers. After performing a literature review, 137 key elements of humanised midwifery were extracted, listed, and rephrased into criteria. The criteria were distributed, and participants added 38 criteria. The perceived level of humanised midwifery performance was scored from 1 (low/substandard) to 10 (excellent). The 9–10 scores benchmarked humanised midwifery care excellence. 312 care professionals benchmarked 42 criteria, and 277 pregnant and postpartum women benchmarked 23 criteria showing a 30 % overlap. A total set of 50 criteria emerged, promoting humanised midwifery excellence. The benchmarking criteria suggest a shared conceptual thinking of person-centeredness and meaningfulness and provide a practical paradigm for the provision and receipt of humanised midwifery care
Psychological health of pregnant and postpartum women before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Get PDFBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to influence psychological health of pregnant and postpartum women.Methods: We conducted a non-concurrent cross-sectional study among 1145 women living in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, 541 pregnant and 604 postpartum women. We measured psychological health with the Whooley questions, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 2-item (GAD-2) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and compared the scores of pregnant and postpartum women before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.Results: No differences were observed in the Whooley, GAD-2 or EPDS scores among pregnant women. The postpartum total GAD-2 scores before vs during the pandemic showed significant differences. Controlling for confounders, we observed a small main positive effect of having an infant during time of COVID-19 (F(1.13) = 5.06, p.025, d.27). The effect was significantly larger for women with (a history of) perinatal psychological problems (F(1.12) = 51.44, p < .001, d.82). Emotional support was significantly related to GAD-2 scores of postpartum women during the pandemic (F(1.90) = 35.54, p < .001). Postpartum women reported significant higher effects of the pandemic on their behavior compared to pregnant women (p.034).Conclusion:The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a positive effect on postpartum women during the first year postpartum, in particular for women with (a history of) perinatal psychological problems and for those women who experienced emotional support. The findings suggest that external stimuli caused by lockdown restrictions might have a positive effect on postpartum women’s emotional wellbeing. The sample consisted of white, educated women in arelationship and information regarding the extent of exposure to adverse COVID-19 consequences was lacking. We relied on self-selection and self-report. The postpartum pandemic sample was small
Midwifery practice and education in Antwerp : forecasting its future with scenario planning
No full textMidwifery Practice and Education in Antwerp: Forecasting Its Future With Scenario Planning
Get PDFBackground: Midwifery across the world is facing changes and uncertainties. By recognizing plausible future options, a contemporary and strategic scope of midwifery practice and education can be established. The city of Antwerp, Belgium, was the indicative case for this study. Key drivers were identified to serve as input for scenarios. Method: Structuration theory and intuitive logics scenario planning methods were used to structure contextual midwifery scenarios. Results: Six certain and six uncertain variables were identified. A two dimensional framework showed these factors: (a) maternity care services and organization and (b) the society of childbearing women and their families. Three scenarios described the plausible future of midwifery: (a) midwife-led care monitoring maternal health needs, (b) midwife-led holistic care, and (c) midwife/general practitioner–led integrated maternity care. Conclusion: All of the scenarios show the direction of change with a strategic focus, the importance of midwifery authenticity, and digital adaptability in maternity services. Also, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic cannot be ignored in future midwifer
Digital adaptability competency for healthcare professionals : a modified explorative e-Delphi study
No full textDigital adaptability competency for healthcare professionals: a modified explorative e-Delphi study
No full textAim: To establish items of the digital adaptability competency for healthcare professionals. Background: While the application and deployment of eHealth has continued at a rapid pace, healthcare professionals are expected to keep up and join the digital evolution. The implementation of eHealth requires a change in the healthcare professionals' competencies of which the ability to adapt to technological change is fundamental. There's more needed than just ICT skills, overall competencies to be digitally adaptable between patientcare and the use of eHealth are needed. Today, a distinct and relevant list of items for healthcare professionals related to the competency of digital adaptability is missing.Design: An exploratory modified e-Delphi study. Methods: This study was conducted in Flanders, Belgium. An expert group (n = 12) consisting of 2 policymakers of the Belgian federal government, 3 eHealth managers of large organizations in the Belgian healthcare sector, 1 nurse, 1 midwife, 2 health service users and 3 researchers specialized in eHealth research. Through a literature review an initial list of items was developed, consisting of 67 statements. A two-round Delphi survey was performed where experts could rate the relevance of each item. The third round comprised an online meeting, where the expert group discussed the remaining items until agreement was reached to retain, modify, or eliminate the item. Results: In round 1, eleven items were included to the final document. In round 2, ten items were included. In round 3, the panel unanimously agreed to add six items, one item was modified into two separate items. In total, 29 items were included in the final document. Conclusions: The rather abstract concept of digital adaptability is now transformed into a more pragmatic concept of 29 items, reflecting the practical competencies of healthcare professionals necessary to be digital adaptable
The validation of the brief COPE in a Belgian perinatal population
No full textIntroduction: The Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) measures individuals’ coping strategies. There is limited evidence on the psychometric properties of this measure in a perinatal population. The aim of this study is to explore the psychometric properties of the Brief COPE in pregnant and postpartum women.Methods: The Dutch/Flemish version of the Brief-COPE was administrated in a sample of 754 antenatal (n=432) and postpartum (n=322) women living in Belgium. Exploratory factor analyses assessed the factor structure of the Brief-COPE and its convergent validity in an antenatal and postpartum sample. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated for internal consistency reliability of the Brief-COPE items.Results: Exploratory factor analysis showed a five-factor antenatal model, presented by the subscales: (1) Active coping (α=0.86), (2) Self-blame and Disengagement (α=0.70), (3) Alcohol use (α=0.96), (4) Humour (α=0.79), and (5) Spirituality (α=0.81). For the postpartum sample, a three-factor model emerged, presented by the subscales: (1) Active coping (α=0.85), (2) Self-blame (α=0.85) and (3) Spirituality (α=0.74).Conclusions: We observed differences and similarities in coping strategies between antenatal and postpartum women – information to be of merit for clinical practice and research. The Brief-COPE is a promising tool for the use of identifying women’s coping strategies during pregnancy and the postpartum period, specifically for women in a similar cultural context as the women in this study, mainly in terms of antenatal alcohol use
