A survey for the readiness of Greek midwives for the adoption of evidence-based practice (EBP).

INTRODUCTION: The holistic approach of healthcare practice in midwifery demands the use of evidence-based practice (EBP) in all aspects of clinical care. Applying EBP in every day healthcare practice by midwives offers various significant benefits. The aim of the present study was to investigate and assess the knowledge and awareness of midwives in Greece with regard to EBP. METHODS: Data collection took place from October 2012 to January 2013 among midwifery staff within two national 'urban' healthcare hospitals of Athens and the department of midwifery in the Athens Technological Institute. The sample consisted of 209 participants of which 109 were midwives and 100 student midwifes. Both were invited to complete a questionnaire specifically designed for the study. RESULTS: Only 43.5% of midwives declared awareness of the term EBP, while 36.4% had to search for general evidence about twice a month in order to support their role. The first source of information to support clinical practice was found to be 'asking colleagues' (52.2%) followed by 'internet search in general' (48.8%), but not in the EBP databases. In addition, 61.2% of respondents stated that EBP would definitely contribute to the provision of better quality midwifery care. CONCLUSIONS: For a successful implementation of EBP, it is required initially to train personnel to develop their abilities, to provide information on the way to use different data sources and encourage midwifery personnel to take initiatives and be part of the decision-making process.

Translation and validation of the Perinatal Grief Scale in a sample of Greek women with perinatal loss during the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To translate and validate the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) (short version) in a sample of Greek women with perinatal loss during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: One hundred seventy-six women were approached a few hours after the loss. Along with the PGS, three more questionnaires were completed: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), in order to assess the convergent validity of the PGS. RESULTS: Total sample mean age was 34.1 years (SD = 5.2). Mean values and Cronbach's alpha coefficients for PGS subscales exceeded the minimum reliability standard of 0.70. Mean score for "Active grief" was 31.47 (SD = 9.31), for "Difficulty Coping" was 23.13 (SD = 7.54) and for "Despair" was 21.07 (SD = 7.07). By applying Pearson's correlation coefficients, PGS subscales positively correlated with scores on EPDS, STAI and HADS. CONCLUSIONS: The PGS Greek version is a reliable instrument in terms of internal consistency and the Cronbach's alpha coefficients are high. The Greek version of PGS can be a useful instrument for the detection of the psychological impact after a perinatal loss and it has implications for both scientific research and clinical routine.