Midwifery
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to present issues associated with recruitment of women in maternity hospitals to a population-based case-control study of very preterm birth. ⋯ recruitment to studies in the maternity setting in the postpartum period is a challenge. Barriers to recruitment that may have introduced selection bias in this study include: recruitment at many hospitals; short postnatal hospital stay; reliance on hospital staff to make the first approach to women; and low response from women whose babies did not survive. A dialogue between researchers and clinical midwives is proposed to explore ways of increasing researchers' understanding of the complex and demanding hospital environment, and to improve research awareness among clinical midwives.
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to explore and describe Bachelor of Midwifery students' learning experiences, specifically the role of the midwifery preceptor in learning and development of competency, from the students' perspective. The findings reported are taken from a wider investigation into Bachelor of Midwifery student's achievement of competency. ⋯ a positive midwife preceptor-student relationship is an integral part of successful student midwife learning, and preceptors with helpful qualities enhance learning. Hands-on learning was emphasised as the most beneficial learning experience and students sought opportunities to work with midwives who imbued the philosophy they admired rather than becoming desensitised or socialised into a midwifery culture that was at odds with the course's philosophy. These findings are potentially useful to inform midwives and agencies teaching student midwives about preceptor behaviours helpful for student midwife learning.