Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Increasing numbers of maternity units are implementing routine and standardized monitoring of all women using a form of Early Warning Score System with the aim to early detect women at risk of developing critical illness or a deterioration of their condition. The implementation in Norway is relatively new. This study aimed to describe Norwegian midwives' experiences with the Obstetric Norwegian Early Warning System (ONEWS).
METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study based on an electronic questionnaire, sent to heads of midwifery at all maternity units in Norway for distribution to their clinically active midwives. Thirty-one of 48 units had implemented ONEWS for over a month. About 1020 midwives received the questionnaire, 232 (23%) responded.
RESULTS: Of the participants, 217 (93.5%) reported receiving sufficient training and 230 (99.1%) reported using the same scoring system, including the same vital parameters measured. The criteria for use of ONEWS varied between units regarding inclusion criteria and frequency of scoring. A total of 214 (92.2%) midwives agreed that ONEWS has value in the surveillance of high-risk women, while 152 (65.5%) agreed that ONEWS contributes to medicalization of the care of low-risk women. Some 166 (71.6%) midwives reported that ONEWS was time consuming and 159 (68.5%) that the measures need to be better adapted to childbearing women.
CONCLUSIONS: Maternity units in Norway implementing ONEWS use an almost identical scoring system but varying criteria for whom to score and how often. Midwives considered ONEWS particularly suited for high-risk women and not for low-risk childbearing women.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Artikelnummer | 10 |
| Tidsskrift | European Journal of Midwifery |
| Vol/bind | 5 |
| Nummer | 4 |
| Sider (fra-til) | 1-9 |
| Antal sider | 9 |
| ISSN | 2585-2906 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - apr. 2021 |
| Udgivet eksternt | Ja |