POOR KNOWLEDGE AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS - PERINATAL DATA VALIDITY AND WORK PLACE CHANGE IN MIDWIFERY

The purpose of this study was to improve the validity of data by empow ering midwives to change inefficient work place practices. An easily a ccessible package was designed to enable midwives to compare how close ly the information they recorded on the original perinatal morbidity s tatistics form corresponds with information recorded in the medical re cord: 37 hospitals validated 2197 medical records. The results showed that whilst most information was recorded reliably, some items caused problems for those completing the form. The findings encouraged midwiv es to change inefficient data collection practices. The project has im proved the validity of data plus reduced the workloads of hospitals an d the Perinatal Data Collection Unit with respect to queried items.