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Table 1 Domains and constructs

From: Development of the Woman-Centred Care Scale- Midwife Self Report (WCCS-MSR)

Domain 1

Fosters a partnership relationship

The midwife is knowledgeable, skilled, and confident, which engenders trust and a sense of safety for the woman.  The woman feels safe sharing information because the midwife protects her privacy. The midwife uses a variety of interpersonal skills to foster a partnership relationship characterised by reciprocity and equality. The midwife is nonjudgmental, respectful and shows empathy towards the woman.

Constructs

The midwife is knowledgeable, skilled, and confident; engendering trust and a sense of safety

 

The midwife protects the woman's privacy

 

The midwife fosters a partnership relationship based on honesty, openness, reciprocity, and equality

 

The midwife is nonjudgmental, respectful and shows empathy towards the woman

Domain 2

Provides care that is wellness focused

The midwife approaches childbearing through a lens of wellbeing, identifying and promoting salutary factors, optimising outcomes, and providing the woman with a positive experience.  The midwife supports, protects, and enhances the physiological processes of childbearing, recognising the influence of environment on the woman's outcomes and experiences.  The midwife recognises the health gains from building the woman's capacity and confidence in her own abilities.

Constructs

The midwife frames practice through the lens of wellbeing

 

The midwife supports, protects, and enhances the physiological processes of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum

 

The midwife recognises the influence of environment

 

The midwife is focused on providing the woman with a positive experience

 

The midwife has confidence in the woman's abilities fostering self-confidence in the woman

Domain 3

Promotes woman's autonomy and empowerment

The midwife recognises a woman’s autonomy and right to self-determination.  The midwife facilitates the woman’s engagement in decision making processes and provides unbiased information to promote informed choice and consent. The midwife upholds the woman’s central role in decision making, the requirement for fully informed consent and advocates for her when necessary.

Constructs

The midwife advocates for the woman when necessary

 

The midwife recognises the woman’s autonomy and right to self determination 

 

The midwife provides unbiased information to facilitate informed choice and consent

 

The midwife recognises the woman's central role in decision making

 

The midwife facilitates engagement, informed choice and maternal control

Domain 4

Provides care that is individualised and holistic

The midwife encourages the woman to articulate her needs and desires so that care can be tailored to her needs. The woman’s needs are prioritised. The midwife individualises information and communication strategies to promote understanding. Each woman is considered within the context of her social situation including the people important to her, family and community.  The midwife approaches the woman holistically considering her emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing as much as her physical.

Constructs

The midwife encourages the woman to articulate her ideas and needs

 

The midwife provides care that is tailored and adaptive to the woman's needs

 

The midwife puts the needs of the woman first

 

The midwife respects the woman's culture and values

 

The midwife responds to the woman holistically