Impact of working in continuity of care models on Australian midwives: A scoping review.

Hobday, MB; Fenwick, J; Reynolds, J; Small, KA; Warton, C; Robinson, M; Homer, CS; Gray, J; Baird, K; Bradfield, Z

Impact of working in continuity of care models on Australian midwives: A scoping review.

Hobday, MB Fenwick, J

Reynolds, J Small, KA Warton, C Robinson, M Homer, CS Gray, J

Baird, K

Bradfield, Z

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women Birth, 2025, 38, (4), pp. 101932
Issue Date:: 2025-07

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hobday, MB
dc.contributor.author	Fenwick, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3556-1193
dc.contributor.author	Reynolds, J
dc.contributor.author	Small, KA
dc.contributor.author	Warton, C
dc.contributor.author	Robinson, M
dc.contributor.author	Homer, CS
dc.contributor.author	Gray, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5204-2873
dc.contributor.author	Baird, K https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0142-6962
dc.contributor.author	Bradfield, Z
dc.date.accessioned	2025-10-01T05:47:51Z
dc.date.available	2025-05-19
dc.date.available	2025-10-01T05:47:51Z
dc.date.issued	2025-07
dc.identifier.citation	Women Birth, 2025, 38, (4), pp. 101932
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192
dc.identifier.issn	1878-1799
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190276
dc.description.abstract	PROBLEM: Global and national strategy directives identify continuity of midwifery carer (CoMC) models as important priorities for workforce development. There are concerns about the impacts of working in CoMC on the midwifery workforce in Australia. BACKGROUND: CoMC models enable care across the childbearing continuum from a single midwife or small group of midwives known to the pregnant woman, improving perinatal outcomes. Potential impacts on midwives working in these models include work-life balance, retention, professional progression, professional satisfaction, burnout and attrition. AIM: To review and synthesise research reporting the impact of working in CoMC models on midwives in Australia, and identify knowledge gaps to guide future research. METHODS: This review adopted the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR check list. A search strategy was developed using keywords relating to the midwifery profession, location (Australia) and CoMC models. Four databases were searched, relevant papers were identified, data extracted and synthesised. FINDINGS: Thirty-two papers met the inclusion criteria for this review. Impacts were identified under the following themes: positive partnerships with women, improved professional satisfaction, work-life balance, impact on professional relationships and positive psychological health and wellbeing. DISCUSSION: These impacts are mostly positive, with evidence of lower levels of intention to leave the workforce and reduced levels of burnout, compared to those working in shift-based models. CONCLUSION: The effect of variations in on-call arrangements were identified as an aspect of work-life balance for future research. Findings are relevant for health service design reform and strategic national workforce planning.
dc.description.sponsorship	Caroline Homer was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant [grant number unavailable].
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER
dc.relation	National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator Grant [grant number unavailable].
dc.relation	https://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/
dc.relation	https://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/
dc.relation.ispartof	Women Birth
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101932
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
dc.subject.classification	3215 Reproductive medicine
dc.subject.classification	4204 Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Burnout, Professional
dc.subject.mesh	Continuity of Patient Care
dc.subject.mesh	Job Satisfaction
dc.subject.mesh	Maternal Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Nurse Midwives
dc.subject.mesh	Work-Life Balance
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Job Satisfaction
dc.subject.mesh	Burnout, Professional
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Nurse Midwives
dc.subject.mesh	Maternal Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Continuity of Patient Care
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Work-Life Balance
dc.title	Impact of working in continuity of care models on Australian midwives: A scoping review.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	38
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Education and Students)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/School of Nursing and Midwifery
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Women & Children’s Health Research Collaborative (WCHC)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/INSIGHT: Institute for Innovative Solutions for Wellbeing and Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-10-01T05:47:49Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	38
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

PROBLEM: Global and national strategy directives identify continuity of midwifery carer (CoMC) models as important priorities for workforce development. There are concerns about the impacts of working in CoMC on the midwifery workforce in Australia. BACKGROUND: CoMC models enable care across the childbearing continuum from a single midwife or small group of midwives known to the pregnant woman, improving perinatal outcomes. Potential impacts on midwives working in these models include work-life balance, retention, professional progression, professional satisfaction, burnout and attrition. AIM: To review and synthesise research reporting the impact of working in CoMC models on midwives in Australia, and identify knowledge gaps to guide future research. METHODS: This review adopted the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and the PRISMA-ScR check list. A search strategy was developed using keywords relating to the midwifery profession, location (Australia) and CoMC models. Four databases were searched, relevant papers were identified, data extracted and synthesised. FINDINGS: Thirty-two papers met the inclusion criteria for this review. Impacts were identified under the following themes: positive partnerships with women, improved professional satisfaction, work-life balance, impact on professional relationships and positive psychological health and wellbeing. DISCUSSION: These impacts are mostly positive, with evidence of lower levels of intention to leave the workforce and reduced levels of burnout, compared to those working in shift-based models. CONCLUSION: The effect of variations in on-call arrangements were identified as an aspect of work-life balance for future research. Findings are relevant for health service design reform and strategic national workforce planning.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190276