A cross-sectional study of midwives proactive behavior in midwifery practice

Objective: To support midwives in coping with the continuous state of change of midwifery practice by studying proactive behavior in midwifery. Design: A cross-sectional study investigated associated antecedents of proactive behavior in a group of Belgian and Dutch midwives. Setting: Midwifery practice in Belgium and the Netherlands. Participants: Belgian and Dutch midwives (n = 139). Intervention: Midwives answered a questionnaire, from September 2017 until December 2017, regarding six personal, seven individual and three contextual antecedents possibly associated to two types of proactive behavior: proactive idea implementation and voice speaking. A proportional odds logistic regression analyses was executed describing the association between these antecedents and the probability to observe proactive behavior. Findings: Of all tested prognostic factors, job autonomy, control appraisal and role breadth self-efficacy, referring to the midwives commitment to perform tasks that go beyond the expectations, were significantly positively associated with proactive behavior. Conclusions: Midwives having more job autonomy and higher role breadth self-efficacy are positively associated with proactive behavior. Additionally, independent midwives more likely behave proactive. Midwives, more than midwifery students, need a high level of control appraisal in order to show proactive behavior. Midwives tend to lose partly their level of proactive behavior after one working year. Implications for Practice: In the quest to support midwives in turbulent times, this study uncloses additional insights of proactive behavior in midwifery. Anticipating the various significant antecedents, could strengthen the level of proactive behavior of midwives. The awareness for proactive behavior could positively contribute to the work efficiency and coping attitude of midwives and indirectly contribute to the quality of care for mother and child.

Jaar van publicatie:2019