The Relationship Between Restrictive Regulation of Midwives, Practice Environment, and Professional Burnout: A 7-State Mixed-Methods Comparison of Autonomous and Restrictive State Regulation.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between state regulation of the midwifery workforce, practice environment, and burnout.

Background: Burnout threatens the US midwifery workforce, with over 40% of certified nurse-midwives meeting criteria. Burnout can lead to poorer physical and mental health and withdrawal from the workforce.

Midwifery Practice Leaders' Experiences of Practice Changes Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Exploration.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic generated considerable upheaval in all sectors of the US health care system, including maternity care. We focused this inquiry on midwifery practice leaders' experiences and perspectives on changes that occurred in their practices early in the pandemic.

Methods: This was a qualitative descriptive study using thematic analysis.

Midwifery Autonomy and Employment Changes During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic presented the midwifery workforce with challenges for maintaining access to high-quality care and safety for patients and perinatal care providers. This study analyzed associations between different types of professional autonomy and changes in midwives' employment and compensation during the early months of the pandemic.

Methods: An online survey distributed to midwifery practices in fall 2020 compared midwives' employment and compensation in February 2020 and September 2020.

Supervisor competencies for supporting return to work: a mixed-methods study.

Purpose: Line supervisors often play an important role in the return to work (RTW) process; whether they possess the competencies needed to carry out this work effectively is unknown. The aim of this research was to determine the competencies supervisors need in order to facilitate a worker's RTW following absence due to a mental health condition or a musculoskeletal disorder.

Methods: Supervisors from five Australian industries with high rates of compensable claims participated in focus groups to elicit the knowledge, skills, and personal characteristics required to support returning workers.

The prevalence of work-related neck, shoulder, and upper back musculoskeletal disorders among midwives, nurses, and physicians: a systematic review.

With the global shortage of health care workers predicted to worsen, attrition from the work force must be minimized. This review examined the incidence or prevalence of neck, shoulder, and upper back musculoskeletal disorders, a possible source of attrition, among midwives, nurses, and physicians. Four electronic databases were systematically searched for publications meeting inclusion criteria.

Functional consequences of work-related spinal musculoskeletal symptoms in a cohort of Australian midwives.

Background: Early evidence suggests spinal musculoskeletal symptoms are as prevalent in Australian midwives as in samples of nurses. Functional consequences of these symptoms include sick leave and functional incapacity, which are costly at both individual and workplace levels. To date there have been no studies of these consequences in midwives.

Helping women but hurting ourselves? Neck and upper back musculoskeletal symptoms in a cohort of Australian Midwives.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of neck and upper back musculoskeletal symptoms in a group of Australian midwives and explore individual characteristics and workplace exposures associated with these symptoms.

Design: cross-sectional, using data from the Nurses and Midwives e-Cohort Study, a longitudinal, electronic survey of midwives and nurses in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Setting: data were collected via an online survey in 2006-2008.

Work-related upper quadrant musculoskeletal disorders in midwives, nurses and physicians: A systematic review of risk factors and functional consequences.

Background: Given a worldwide shortage of primary health care workers predicted to worsen, it is vital to address sources of attrition among these professionals. One such source may be work-related musculoskeletal disorders. We aimed to identify risk factors for and functional consequences of work-related upper quadrant musculoskeletal disorders in midwives, nurses and physicians.