It’s About Getting the Balance Right: Midwives’ Experiences with Using Communication Technology with Pregnant Women/People
Date
Authors
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer Publishing Company
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The convenience of asynchronous communication such as texting has enabled people to quickly communicate with others. Concerns have been identified around the quality of relationships that are developed during these interactions with respect to privacy and confidentiality of information, particularly within a health care context. This has potential implications on the way midwives use technology when communicating with their clients. AIM: This article reports on how midwives find balance when using communication technology with their pregnant clients. This is achieved through balancing societal expectations on being connected 24/7 while maintaining their own work/life balance. METHODS: This article reports on phase 2A of a multiphase study. Semistructured interviews with 14 midwives who use communication technology such as texting with their pregnant clients were conducted online using the platform Microsoft Teams. Interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: The findings indicate that midwives are balancing how they use communication technology when communicating with their pregnant clients in three ways: (a) midwives are balancing the convenience of the technology with the relationships they develop with their pregnant clients within a continuity of care relationship; (b) midwives are balancing these communications while ensuring privacy and confidentiality of information; and (c) midwives are finding a balance between ensuring access for their pregnant clients while maintaining their own work/life balance. DISCUSSION: Midwives recognized that there is a need to balance the convenience of technology with the relationships they develop with their pregnant clients. They are adjusting and adapting to ensure they are connecting but also mindful of challenges with ensuring privacy and confidentiality of information. Midwives have shown how communication technology is part of a solution in enabling them to communicate with their clients while maintaining a better work/life balance.Description
Source
International Journal of Childbirth, ISSN: 2156-5287 (Print); 2156-5295 (Online), Springer Publishing Company, 14(2), 61-74. doi: 10.1891/IJC-2024-0004
Publisher's version
Rights statement
An author may self-archive an author-created version of his/her article on his/her own website and or in his/her institutional repository. He/she may also deposit this version on his/her funder’s or funder’s designated repository at the funder’s request or as a result of a legal obligation, provided it is not made publicly available until 12 months after official publication. He/ she may not use the publisher's PDF version, which is posted on www.springerlink.com, for the purpose of self-archiving or deposit. Furthermore, the author may only post his/her version provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at www.springerlink.com”. (Please also see Publisher’s Version and Citation).