Predicting collaborative practice between midwives and obstetricians: A regression analysis.

Introduction: Effective collaborative practice between midwives and obstetricians improves patient safety and obstetrical outcomes, but its implementation remains challenging. Therefore, its determinants need to be better understood. This study examined factors impacting collaborative practice (CP) between these professional groups.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey that took place in Swiss hospital labor wards in 2021. Collaborative practice perceptions of 70 midwives (57.4% response rate) and 44 obstetricians (29.0% response rate) were assessed using the Interprofessional Collaboration Scale, with the score serving as the main outcome. A total of 13 individual, behavioral, and organizational predictors were analyzed by multiple linear regression.

Results: Participants rated collaborative practice with a median score of 3.1 (IQR: 2.8-3.4) out of a maximum score of 4.0. Results showed that five predictors significantly influenced collaborative practice: type of profession (β= -0.180; 95% CI: -0.296 - -0.040, p=0.011), trust/respect (β=0.343; 95% CI: 0.085-0.040, p=0.000), shared visions/goals (β=0.218; 95% CI: 0.030-0.204, p=0.009), workplace (β=0.253; 95% CI: 0.089-0.445, p=0.004) and shared power (β=0.163; 95% CI: 0.042-0.222, p=0.015). The model explained 66% of the variance (adjusted R2) in collaborative practice in labor wards.

Conclusions: This study has identified key factors influencing CP in Swiss labor wards: workplace characteristics that require tailored CP models, and a power-sharing culture that fosters trust, respectful interactions and shared goals, requiring active exchange between midwives and obstetricians.