EVIDENCE BASED MIDWIFERY APPLICATIONS IN CONTEXT

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE IS NOW WIDELY ACCEPTED AS A FUNDAMENTAL TENET OF MIDWIFERY. THE IMPORTANCE OF EVIDENCE IN DEFINING MIDWIFERY POLICY AND PRACTICE IN THE UK HEALTH SYSTEM, AND OTHERS, IS ACKNOWLEDGED AND ENDURING. WHILE THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF RESEARCH IN MIDWIFERY IS WELL CHARTED, THE QUESTION OF HOW SUCH EVIDENCE IS INCORPORATED INTO PRACTICE HAS, TO DATE, RECEIVED LESS ATTENTION AND DISCUSSION IN THE MIDWIFERY PROFESSION. ANSWERING THIS NEED, EVIDENCE BASED MIDWIFERY FOCUSES ON THE DISSEMINATION AND USE OF EVIDENCE FOR MIDWIFERY PRACTICE, AND EXPLORES MIDWIVES' EXPERIENCES IN USING THE EVIDENCE BASE TO INFORM POLICY AND ENHANCE CLINICAL PRACTICE. WRITTEN BY A HIGHLY-REGARDED AND DIVERSE GROUP FROM THE UK AND INTERNATIONAL MIDWIFERY COMMUNITY, EVIDENCE BASED MIDWIFERY ADDRESSES ISSUES OF RELEVANCE TO ALL MIDWIVES WHETHER CLINICAL PRACTITIONERS OR EDUCATORS, STUDENTS OR SUPERVISORS, RESEARCHERS OR MANAGERS. ISSUES THAT INFLUENCE EVIDENCE BASED MIDWIFERY ARE DISCUSSED,