Views of midwives about ethical aspects of participation in placental perfusion studies

Backgroundlittle is known regarding the role of the midwife in recruiting mothers to participate in scientific research.Objectiveto describe ethical aspects of participation of midwives in placental perfusion studies.Designqualitative study involving thematic interviews and thematic content analysis.Settingtwo university hospitals in Finland in 2008–2009.Participantsmidwives (n=20) who had been involved in recruiting mothers for a placental perfusion study.Findingsmidwives felt that the situation, when inviting the mothers to donate their placentas, was restless and hasty because of the considerable number of tasks required during a birth. For recruitment, they explained how they tried their best to find a quiet opportunity to provide information about the placental perfusion study, so that the mother could take her time reading the written information. During a birth, it was difficult to give information to the mother in such a way that she would truly understand. Information for the mother was planned to be provided in an equal, dialogic conversation, with the subject of research introduced by the midwife. Placental perfusion studies as carried out in this setting were not seen to have any risks for the mothers, and midwives were under less strain in this study than in other medical research projects. The midwives considered it normal to use placentas in scientific research, and did not see any associated ethical problems. In their opinion, the use of placentas was acceptable and even desirable, provided that the mother was informed about the research and gave voluntary informed consent.Conclusions and implications for practiserecruitment must be taken into account in management of the ward, and should be planned so that no recruitment is undertaken during medical procedures. Midwives need more education about the research including the important aspects of the creation of general knowledge about substances which may harm the fetus. Dialogue is needed between the mother and the midwife to ensure genuine informed consent.