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Midwife led randomised controlled trials in Australia and New Zealand: A scoping review.

Homer C, Neylon K, Kennedy K, Baird K, Gilkinson A, Keogh S, Middleton S, Gray R, Whitehead L, Finn J, Rickard C, Sharplin G, Neville S, Eckert M

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  • Published 07 Mar 2023

  • Volume Epub ahead of print

  • DOI 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.03.003

Abstract

Background: Midwives are the largest workforce involved in caring for pregnant women and their babies, and are well placed to translate research into practice and ensure midwifery priorities are appropriately targeted in researched. Currently, the number and focus of randomised controlled trials led by midwives in Australia and New Zealand is unknown. The Australasian Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Trials Network was established in 2020 to build nursing and midwifery research capacity. To aid this, scoping reviews of the quality and quantity of nurse and midwife led trials were undertaken.

Aim: To identify midwife led trials conducted between 2000 and 2021 in Australia and New Zealand.

Methods: This review was informed by the JBI scoping review framework. Medline, Emcare, and Scopus were searched from 2000-August 2021. ANZCTR, NHMRC, MRFF, and HRC (NZ) registries were searched from inception to July 2021.

Findings: Of 26,467 randomised controlled trials registered on the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, 50 midwife led trials, and 35 peer-reviewed publications were identified. Publications were of moderate to high quality with scores limited due to an inability to blind participants or clinicians. Blinding of assessors was included in 19 published trials.

Discussion: Additional support for midwives to design and conduct trials and publish findings is required. Further support is needed to translate registration of trial protocols into peer reviewed publications.

Conclusion: These findings will inform the Australasian Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Trials Network plans to promote quality midwife led trials.

Keywords: Australasian nursing and midwifery clinical trials network; Clinical research; Midwife; Randomized controlled trials as topic; Registries; Scoping review.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare their involvement in various clinical trials that have been referenced in this scoping review. Caroline Homer also declares she is the current Editor-in-Chief of Women & Birth. The Deputy Editor, Prof Linda Sweet, managed this submission and made the final decision. All other authors have no further conflicts to declare.