Developing high-quality research in midwifery: lessons learned from the midwifery research database, MIRIAD

Background: research in midwifery Is a relatively new development in many c ountries, and as a consequence it can be difficult to identify ongoing and completed research, to network with other researchers in similar fields, an d to plan appropriately to develop research and research capacity. This pap er describes the establishment of the UK Midwifery Research Database, MIRIA D, which aimed to address these problems. Method: funding from the Department of Health (England) supported the estab lishment of MIRIAD in 1988. Systems and procedures were set in place to col lect, store, analyse and disseminate information about ongoing and complete d research in midwifery. Six detailed reports were published. MIRIAD was cl osed in 1999 as a result of lack of ongoing funding. Key findings: 466 studies were registered with MIRIAD, with start dates ran ging from 1974 to 1998. The majority of studies examined clinical topics. A wide range of research approaches were used. Studies were supported by a r ange of sources, including employers and national funding agencies. There w ere many examples of high-quality, peer-reviewed, and externally funded stu dies which can be used to inform practice. Issues raised by some, studies, however, included concerns about research quality, inadequacy of some super vision, low rate of publication, and inconsistency in gaining ethics commit tee approval. Conclusions: research in midwifery in the UK has matured over the past 25 y ears. It still faces many challenges, including the need to maintain qualit y and to gain more national funding support. Lessons have also been learned about the need for quality in research information systems. Ongoing assess ment of the growth and direction of research in midwifery is recommended, p ossibly through monitoring of the generic NHS database, the National Resear ch Register (NRR), to inform strategic developments in research and researc h capacity at national, regional and local levels. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publis hers Ltd.