gms | German Medical Science

Background: The work scope and offer of midwifery care in Germany, respectively, encompasses support services for the time of the reproductive phase of women and their families [1]. The family itself is undergoing societal change at this time and cannot be taken for granted, and must increasingly be created to exist [2]. The plurality of current living concepts and forms of families bring along adjustments of midwife tasks and care. The care situations have become more complex and require modified approaches to care as well as a qualitative alignment of the services to the new conditions [3]. This involves the consideration of cultural diversity, differences in values, norms, and roll and task distributions in families. A strong connection to families and the guidance and counseling of midwives dealing with most diverse families offers an opportunity for acting in a family-oriented way.

Aim/Research Question: In the framework of this dissertation, the family orientation of midwife care is systematically examined providing a contribution to promoting family health and to support new family formation.

The following research questions will be answered:

• What is the significance of family orientation in midwifery care?
• What should a model for care that connects midwifery work and family orientation look like?

Methods: To design a care model, an exploratory approach was adopted. First, questions on family oriented work methods of midwives were identified based on literature and practice, then concretized in the framework of two workshops with midwives, and finally assessed in Delphi surveys in three waves [4]. The results obtained were employed as building blocks for conceptualizing a science based care model [5].

Results: The key results of the research are:

• Family orientation in midwifery care has substantial benefits, however, the focus of care is different for a clinical and a freelance setting.
• Definitions of family for midwifery care are oriented on definitions that describe new family bonding and character shaping.
• Family characteristics such as network, origin and culture, and social status serve as images for establishing an “Is Condition” and should be employed as basis for all midwifery care.
• The scope of action for midwives is expressed in form of fundamental family-oriented activities that will be applied according to resources and needs of families.
• Currently, a gap exists in midwife training emphasizing the need for an appropriate care model.

Relevance: This care model is intended to create added value for families and midwives. It will serve to do justice to the demands of midwives for an appropriate theoretical foundation of training and expanded action competence, and to provide opportunities for better utilizing family resources, to recognize family needs and to address these in midwife activities.

Recommendations/Conclusion: The care model represents a scientifically grounded offer that structures health support and care expanding the perspective of family orientation and improving it accordingly.

Ethics and conflicts of interest: A vote on ethics was obtained. The research was financed by own resources. There are no conflicts of interest.

The PDF file of the poster submitted for the meeting is available in German as Attachment 1 [Attach. 1].