Midwifery Study (Practitioners)
Thank you to all of the Canadian midwives who participated in the Canadian Midwifery Study.
To view the summary results of the registered midwives study
About the Survey
Why is this study being done?
We are hoping to determine the reasons midwives stay in their profession. We are also interested in your views on provincial policies and practices that may affect your experiences. We want to learn more about your work experience as a practicing midwife in Canada.
What am I being asked to do?
You are being asked to participate in an online survey that focuses on your experiences practicing midwifery in Canada. The survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.
What are the benefits of participating in this study?
This study will not benefit you directly but we hope it will contribute to a better understanding of why practicing midwives stay or leave the midwifery profession and what factors influence their decisions. We are hoping to identify common reasons for midwives leaving the profession. This will assist us in suggesting changes to policies potentially resulting in a greater number of midwives staying in the profession.
What are the risks of participating in this study?
Risks to participating in this study are minimal. You may feel some discomfort related to some questions being asked, but you can choose to skip any questions you do not want to answer. You can also answer only some of the questions and still remain in the study.
Will I be paid to participate in this study?
If you agree to take part in this study you will have the opportunity to enter a draw for one of three $50 eGift cards. If you are a winner, your eGift Card will be emailed directly to you.
What will happen to my personal information?
The researchers will collect your email address, sex and year of birth. Information related to your sex and year of birth will be combined to describe the study participants as a group. Your email address will be used to enter the draw for the eGift Card. We will also be requesting your email address at the end of the survey to offer you information about a follow-up interview which will focus on your experiences as a midwife in Canada. Any contact information we collect from you will be stored separately on a password protected file on a password protected computer in the Research Coordinator’s office and will only be linked to your survey by a unique study number. The only people who will have access to both your email address and your unique study number will be Dr. HakemZadeh and the Research Coordinator, Jennifer Plenderleith. Once contact information is no longer needed it will be deleted. Your survey responses will be stored on a password protected computer at McMaster University. The data will be kept for 10 years and then destroyed. At no time will the information you share be identified by name in the study. Please note that the researchers will not collect or use internet protocol (IP) addresses or other information which could link your participation to your computer or electronic device without informing you first.
Can participation end early?
Your participation in the study is voluntary. Your decision whether or not to be part of the study will not impact your career status in any way. You are free to withdraw from this study at any time without consequence. You may quit the survey at any time and by clicking on the exit and clear button at the bottom right of your screen. By choosing to exit the online survey none of your survey responses will be collected or stored. However, once you complete and submit the survey, because of the nature of the survey generator (Lime Survey), it is impossible to remove your responses because we will not know which completed survey is yours.
How can I get information about the study results?
If you are interested in reading a summary of the study results they will be available on our study website under study results. Results will also be published in peer-reviewed journals and a final report showcasing our results will be created and posted on our website.
If I have questions about the study, who should I call?
If you have questions about this study, please contact the Research Coordinator, Jennifer Plenderleith, at 905-525-9140 ext. 20089, or Dr. Derek Lobb, McMaster University 905-525-9140 ext. 22482.
This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (HIREB). The HIREB is responsible for ensuring that participants are informed of the risks associated with the research, and that participants are free to decide if participation is right for them. If you have any questions about your rights as a participant, please call the Office of the Chair, Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board at 905-521-2100 ext. 42013.
