Findings of a nationwide survey of the diabetes education and training needs of midwives in the UK

Authors

  • Umesh Dashora Consultant, Diabetes and Endocrinology Conquest Hospital Hastings TN37 7RD
  • Alban Davies Huw Chair of Diabetes Care Trust
  • Shelley Bennett A support network for people aged 18-30's with diabetes
  • Anne Goodchild PITstop diabetes training
  • Julia Hugason-Briem Director of Briem Consulting Ltd
  • Gail Johnson Royal college of Midwives
  • Abigail Kitt Senior Quality Improvement Lead, South East Coast Clinical Network, NHS England
  • Annette Schreiner Consultant Obstetrician (Retired), Darrent Valley Hospital
  • Diane Todd Leicester University Hospital
  • Jennifer Yiallorous Director of Qualjenuity

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2018.194

Keywords:

Nationwide, diabetes, education, training, midwives

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence and prevalence of diabetes is increasing in pregnant women. Midwives manage a substantial proportion of care of these women. Currently it is not
known whether midwives have sufficient competence in managing these patients well. The Diabetes Care Trust commissioned a survey to assess the diabetes education and training needs of midwives who look after pregnant women with diabetes.

Material and methods: A freedom of information request was made to all the NHS Trusts in the UK to gather relevant information about the roles and responsibilities of midwives in the
maternity units in the UK. This was followed by a Survey Monkey questionnaire to midwives in the UK who are members of the Royal College of Midwives to assess their education and training level, needs, desires and views preceded by a test survey on nine midwives.

Results: The survey revealed considerable variation in the roles and responsibilities, current levels of training and education needs of midwives. Over 85% of midwives expressed a desire to access additional education on diabetes management in different areas. Training in insulin initiation and titration, management during labour and ability to contribute to the antenatal clinic was desired by over 85% of midwives surveyed. 

Conclusions: There is an unmet need for structured education and training programmes for midwives in the management of diabetes in pregnancy. We recommend further work in producing tailored and accredited training programmes at different levels to suit the differing needs of midwives and diabetes specialist midwives in the UK. 

References

References

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Diabetes in pregnancy: management of diabetes and its complications from preconception to the postnatal period. 2015. http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng3 (accessed 18 April 2018).

Dornhurst A, Banerjee A. In: Holt R, Cockram C, Flyvbjerg A, Goldstein B, editors. Textbook of Diabetes, 4th edition. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. 2011;Chapter 53: 888-921.

Noctor E, Dunne F. A Practical guide to pregnancy complicated by diabetes. Diabetes Primary Care 2014;16:146–53.

NHS. National Diabetes in Pregnancy Audit 2017. http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB30109 2017 (accessed 18 April 2018)

Dashora U, Rafique S, Tharayil G, Jones S, Castro E, Sathiskumar P. The feasibility and impact of implementing NICE guidance on diabetes control during delivery. Br J Diabetes 2017;17:100–6. https://doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2017.137

Murphy, HR, Bell R, Cartwright C, et al. Improved pregnancy outcomes in women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes but substantial clinic-to-clinic variations: a prospective nationwide study. Diabetologia 2017;60:1668. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-017-4314-3

Feig DS, Donovan LE, Corcoy R, et al. Continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (CONCEPTT): a multicentre international randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2017;390:2347–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32400-5

Public Health England. Atlas of Variation. http://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/atlas-of-variation (accessed 13 Feb 2018)

Joint British Diabetes Societies-In Patient. Management of glycaemic control in pregnant women with diabetes on obstetric wards and delivery units. http://www.diabetologists-abcd.org.uk/JBDS/JBDS_Pregnancy_final_18082017.pdf (accessed 14 Dec 2017).

Royal College of Midwives. Lead midwife in diabetes: standards, roles and competencies. NHS Diabetes, 2010. https://www.rcm.org.uk/sites/default/files/NHSDAKC_0002_A4Midwivesbrochure_5.pdf

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Type 2 diabetes in adults: management. 2015. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28 (accessed 18 April 2018).

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Diabetes in adults. 2016. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs6/chapter/quality-statement-7-inpatient-care-for-adults-with-type-1-diabetes (accessed 18 April 2018).

Dashora U, Davies HA, Bennett S, et al, on behalf of the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD). Diabetes care in pregnancy. A midwife education needs analysis. http://www.diabetologists-abcd.org.uk/Research/DCT_report_final_05012018.pdf. 2018 (accessed 17 Oct 2018).

Nash M. A mixed methods approach to exploring mental health nurses’ diabetes education and skills needs. DProf Thesis, Middlesex University, 2014. http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/13468/.

Warwick Medical School. Diabetes in pregnancy. https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/med/study/cpd/module_index/mh907/ (accessed 18 April 2018).

Cardiff University. Postgraduate diabetes education. http://www.diabetesdiploma.cf.ac.uk/programmes/modules.php (accessed 18 April 2018).

Downloads

Published

2018-12-12