The experience of Italian nurses and midwives in the termination of pregnancy: a qualitative study.

Mauri, Paola Agnese; Squillace, Francesca

Objectives: The aim of the study was to provide insight into the experiences of nurses and midwives working in the Italian abortion service.Methods: Study participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between July and September 2016, among 22 nurses and two midwives working in five abortion services in Milan, Italy. Transcripts of interviews were analysed using a phenomenological approach to data analysis.Results: Five main themes emerged from the analysis: (a) coping with caring for women undergoing a termination of pregnancy; (b) improving professional training; (c) approaching work in a mechanistic way as a means of overcoming difficulties; (4) performing medical abortions; (d) recounting an experience.Conclusions: This first study about assisting with pregnancy termination in Italy may enable critical comparison with studies carried out in other countries. Both nurses and midwives suggested strategies, which may improve the provision of care: collaboration between primary and tertiary care, continuous training, multidisciplinary collaboration, increase of staff turnover and being kept abreast of new pharmaceutical products. Our findings are applicable to wider medical practice.

ITALY; NURSES; MIDWIVES; EXPERIENCE; ABORTION clinics; QUALITATIVE research; ABORTION & psychology; OCCUPATIONAL diseases; ABORTION; ADAPTABILITY (Personality); ATTITUDE (Psychology); MATERNITY nursing; MEDICAL personnel; NURSE-patient relationships; PSYCHOLOGY of nurses; NURSING specialties; PSYCHOLOGICAL stress; MIDWIFERY; PSYCHOLOGICAL factors; PSYCHOLOGY

European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 2017, Vol 22, Issue 3, p227

1362-5187

Academic Journal

10.1080/13625187.2017.1318846