Coping strategies and interventions to prevent and alleviate work-related burnout in midwives: A rapid scoping review of quantitative and qualitative research.

PROBLEM: Work-related burnout in healthcare is a public health crisis. It is particularly prevalent in midwives, due to high workloads, staff shortages, and the emotional demands of providing care for birthing women. Burnout affects midwives' wellbeing and ability to provide high-quality care, exacerbating workforce challenges.

BACKGROUND

Coping strategies and interventions to prevent and alleviate work-related burnout in midwives have been described in the literature.

AIM: Identify and describe the evidence on coping strategies and interventions to prevent and alleviate work-related burnout in midwives.

METHODS

A rapid scoping review was conducted with systematic searches in four electronic databases. Three reviewers screened and extracted the data on reported coping strategies and interventions, which were collated and presented in a narrative format.

FINDINGS: 7379 articles were identified, and twenty-one articles were included. Five overarching types of coping strategies to prevent and alleviate burnout in midwives were present in the included studies: Support and understanding from colleagues; Structured support from the workplace; Support from friends and family; Ability to reflect and learn professionally and personally from events; Awareness of self-care techniques for use in practice and after events.

DISCUSSION AND

CONCLUSION

Maternity services must prioritise workforce wellbeing by increasing the focus on preventing and alleviating burnout to support the retention of midwives and ensure the safe, effective care of women. Future research could focus on exploring how practical support for midwives, such as supervision and debriefing could be implemented effectively, and identify realistic, sustainable ways to integrate psychology-informed approaches into midwifery practice.