Article
The significance of qualitative research for the development of midwifery as a profession in Germany
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Authors
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Dorothea Tegethoff
- Protestant University of applied sciences Berlin, Study program Midwifery, Berlin, Germany
| Published: | February 13, 2018 |
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Outline
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Background and research question: Midwifery has a long tradition [1], nevertheless it is a young profession in Germany. Although the development as a profession is not exclusively based on scientific activity [3], it is crucial to generate an independent corpus of midwifery knowledge [2]. This paper addresses the professionalization of midwifery in Germany und the significance of qualitative research in this development.
Methodology: In summer 2017 qualitative interviews were undertaken with five German midwifery researchers concerning their own research and the research developments in their university department and throughout Germany. Interviews inquiring about the significance of qualitative research were conducted and analyzed using the documentary method [4].
Results: All respondents considered qualitative research as important for the development of midwifery science in Germany. The following aspects were emphasized by the respondents:
- Midwifery research is still at the beginning in Germany.
- Professionalization means dissociation from and dispute with other professions, especially medicine,
- Evidence based practice is an influential concept in German midwifery and midwifery research. Women’s preferences und women’s autonomy need to be in the center of evidence based midwifery practice.
- To be successful the process of professionalization requires reflective support by midwives in research and practice.
Conclusions: Qualitative research has manifold functions in the process of professionalization of midwives. Exploratory qualitative research can be an initial point for the generation of scientific knowledge, which means that the significance of qualitative research will decline over time. On the other hand, qualitative research provides answers to “different” questions and can help to generate knowledge which acknowledges women’s autonomy and women’s preferences. Focusing on women’s experiences and perspectives, qualitative research can support the professional working relationship between midwife and woman. Furthermore, qualitative research provides opportunities to support the development as an academic profession by reflecting midwives’ experiences and views.
Ethical criteria and conflict of interests: The research / project was not submitted to an ethics committee for the following reasons: Informed consent of respondents, no client or patient data was collected. It was financed from own resources. There is no conflict of interest.
The PDF file of the poster submitted for the meeting is available in German as Attachment 1 [Attach. 1].
References
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- 2.
- Stichweh R. Professionen in einer funktional differenzierten Gesellschaft. In: Combe A, Helsper W, Hrsg. Pädagogische Professionalität. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp; 1996. S. 49-69.
- 3.
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- 4.
- Nohl AM. Interview und dokumentarische Methode. Wiesbaden: Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften; 2008.
