Helen G Hall

Monash University (Australia) · School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background : Informed decision-making is a vital component of midwifery philosophy and a core recommendation of the global respectful maternity care charter; however, women and midwives report a lack of informed decision-making in actual practice. Research reveals informed decision-making improves physical and mental health outcomes for women, rega...

Background: Approximately one-fifth of pregnant women suffer from anxiety and/or depression. These mental health conditions are associated with increased infant and maternal morbidity. Relaxation massage has the potential to improve mental health and may provide a vaulable option for pregnant women. This paper reports on participants’ experiences o...

Background: Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) can prevent up to 13% of under-five mortality in developing countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa the rate of EBF at six months remains very low at 36%. Different types of factors such as maternal, family and work-related factors are responsible for the low rate of EBF among employed women. This study aimed to...

Evidence from different countries shows that the level of support given to mothers who return to paid employment can significantly determine the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). However, little is known about how returning to work impacts Ethiopian women's EBF practice. The aim of this study was to explore women's attitudes and experience...

Background: Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) can prevent up to 13% of under-five mortality in developing countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa the rate of EBF at six months remains very low at 36%. Different types of factors such as maternal, family-related and work-related factors are responsible for the low rate of EBF among employed women. This study ai...

Background Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) can prevent up to 13% of under-five mortality in developing countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa the rate of EBF at six months remains very low at 36%. Different types of factors such as maternal, family-related and work-related factors are responsible for the low rate of EBF among employed women. This study aim...

Background: A high number of Australian women report experiencing traumatic birth events. Despite high incidence and potential wide spread and long-lasting effects, birth trauma is poorly recognised and insufficiently treated. Birth trauma can trigger ongoing psychosocial symptoms for women, including anxiety, tokophobia, bonding difficulties, rel...

Background Mental health problems place a significant burden on the health system and are an important public health issue. Many pregnant women experience anxiety and depression, which can negatively impact health outcomes for both mother and baby. Partner-delivered massage may provide a cost effective and accessible approach to support the mental...

Objective To critically appraise and synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of massage to reduce antenatal women's anxiety and/ or depression. Design Systematic review with meta-analysis Participants, Interventions Pregnant women over the age of 18 years who receive massage interventions. Measurements and Findings Eight stud...

Background and purpose Massage is commonly used by the Australian public and is often sought by expectant mothers. Despite its popularity there is no regulatory body to enforce minimum educational standards, guidelines or evidence-based best practice for massage therapists. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the views and practices of m...

Background Anxiety and depression affects many pregnant women. Massage may be beneficial for supporting mental wellbeing during this time. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a partner-delivered relaxation massage program for pregnant women, and its impact on symptoms of antenatal anxiety, stress and depression....

Background: Only 21% of employed mothers in Ethiopia breastfeed exclusively until six months. Evidence from other countries has shown that support from managers encourages mothers to continue breastfeeding. Whereas lack of physical resources, time for breastfeeding and supportive policies adversely impact the continuation of breastfeeding. The aim...

Objective This systematic review and narrative synthesis aims to explore the specific facilitators and barriers of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among employed mothers in low and lower middle-income countries. Methods Primary quantitative and qualitative studies undertaken in low and lower middle-income countries published from 2003-2019 were incl...

Introduction: Despite the enormous benefits of childhood and maternal immunisation to individual and population health, the uptake of maternal vaccines during pregnancy remains suboptimal. Midwives are a trusted information source for parents and play an important role in the provision of immunisation information. Understanding midwives' attitudes...

Background The self-management of chronic conditions is challenging for culturally and linguistically diverse populations who have migrated to predominantly English-speaking countries. There are barriers such as lack of engagement with health services and language difficulties. Despite the importance of medication adherence for people who have migr...

Background and objectives: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use has been associated with preventive health behaviors. However, the role of CAM use in patients’ health behaviors remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the extent to which patients report that CAM use motivates them to make changes to their health behaviors. Materia...

Objectives: Around the world, the PICU is one of the most common sites for hospitalized children to die. Although ensuring the best possible care experience for these children and their families is important, clear recommendations for end-of-life and bereavement care, arising from the parents themselves, remain limited within current literature. T...

Introduction: Identifying priority research topics that meet the needs of multiple stakeholders should maximize research investment. Aim: To identify priorities for health education research. Methods: A three-stage sequential mixed methods study was conducted. Priorities for health education research were identified through a qualitative survey wit...

Background: The Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (ARCCIM) has established a leadership and capacity building program to identify, nurture and support future complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) leaders, and help develop and lead a sustainable CIM research culture. Early- and mid-career researchers chosen...

Background Childbearing women commonly access maternity services via the telephone. A midwife receiving these calls listens to the woman’s concerns and then triages women according to their assessment. This may result in the provision of advice and instruction over the telephone or inviting the woman into the health service for further assessment....

Problem: Inactivated influenza vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus acellular pertussis vaccine are routinely recommended during pregnancy to protect women and their babies from infection. Additionally, the hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for infants within the first week of life; however, little is known about midwives' experiences of recommending a...

Background and purpose: As many as one in two women consult with a complementary medicine (CM) practitioner for pregnancy-related health care, yet little is known about the reason for such a high rate of use. This paper presents the perceptions of CM practitioners regarding the role they play within the existing maternity care system. Materials and...

Background As understandings of the impacts of end-of-life experiences on parents’ grief and bereavement increase, so too does the inclusion of bereaved parents into research studies exploring these experiences. However, designing and obtaining approval for these studies can be difficult, as guidance derived from bereaved parents’ experiences of th...

Problem Theoretical sampling is a key research process within grounded theory. However, whilst methodological texts provide a definition, it is difficult to find examples of how theoretical sampling is undertaken as a study develops. The lack of clear exemplars has caused confusion amongst researchers, with many grounded theory studies providing no...

When a child dies in the intensive care unit, many bereaved parents want relationships with their child’s health care staff to continue in the form of follow-up care. However, the nature of these relationships and how they change across the parents’ bereavement journey is currently unknown. This article explores early and ongoing relationships betw...

Aim: To explore registered nurses' attitudes and behaviour toward patients' use of complementary therapies. Background: Despite high rates of use of complementary therapies by the general population, little is known of how nurses respond to patients' use of these therapies. Design: A two-phase sequential exploratory mixed methods design. Meth...

Objective: To identify communication patterns of Registered Nurses regarding patients' use of complementary therapies. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey conducted in 2017 recruited Australian Registered Nurses working in any area of nursing. Results: Responses of 614 Registered Nurses were analysed. Patient-initiated discussion of compl...

Background: A child's death in the intensive care unit is often sudden and unexpected, requiring the involvement of the state coroner to investigate both the cause and the circumstances surrounding the death. This process often involves the police, who arrive in intensive care to identify the body and collect statements from the parents. At presen...

Purpose: To explore bereaved parents' perspectives of parent and staff roles in the pediatric intensive care unit when their child was dying, and their relationships with healthcare staff during this time. Design and methods: Constructivist grounded theory was used to undertake this study. Semi-structured interviewers were conducted with 26 bere...

Background: Midwives use telephone triage to provide advice and support to childbearing women, and to manage access to maternity services. Telephone triage practises are important in the provision of accurate, timely and appropriate health care. Despite this, there has been very little research investigating this area of midwifery practice. Aim:...

Objective: To explore bereaved parents' judgements of healthcare providers, as part of a larger study examining their perceptions of the death of a child in the paediatric intensive care unit. Research methodology: Constructivist grounded theory. Setting: Four Australian paediatric intensive care units. Main outcome measures: Semi-structured...

Objectives: This study explores the influences of the paediatric intensive care environment on relationships between parents and healthcare providers when children are dying. It forms part of a larger study, investigating parental experiences of the death of their child in intensive care. Research methodology: Constructivist grounded theory. Se...

Background: Entering the paediatric intensive care unit with a critically ill child is a stressful experience for parents. In addition to fearing for their child's well-being, parents must navigate both a challenging environment and numerous new relationships with healthcare staff. How parents form relationships with staff and how they perceive bo...

Background Most Low and Middle-Income Countries are facing a crisis in human resources for health which compromises their ability to meet health related targets outlined by the Sustainable Development Goals. The crisis is not limited to the availability of health personnel but also the quality of care and the training and development of the workfor...

Background : Many people integrate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into their health care. Nurses potentially play a significant role in communicating with patients about their CAM utilisation. Aim : The study aimed to explore whether, how and why nurses working in Australia communicate about patients’ CAM use. Methods : This paper r...

Background: Simulation-based learning is an approach recommended for teaching undergraduate health professionals. There is a scarcity of research around interprofessional simulation training for pre-professional students in obstetric emergencies that occur prior to arrival at the maternity ward. Objectives: The primary aims of the study were to...

Aim: To explore bereaved parents' interactions with healthcare providers when a child dies in a paediatric intensive care unit. Background: Though most children admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit will survive, 2-5% will die during their stay. The parents of these children interact and form relationships with numerous healthcare staff d...

Background: Simulation-based programs are increasingly being used to teach obstetrics and gynaecology examinations, but it is difficult to establish student learning acquired through them. Assessment may test student learning but its role in learning itself is rarely recognised. We undertook this study to assess medical and midwifery student learn...

Recruitment of participants into bereavement research may present many challenges for the research team. At present, there is little consensus for researchers and ethics committees on the most appropriate method of recruitment. There is some evidence that participants prefer to be contacted about research studies via letters. However, recruitment i...

Background Simulation-based interprofessional education programs can have variable objectives for different participating professional teams. Methods In this study, through a qualitative research design, we report the medical and midwifery students' approach to their learning and attitude towards each other's team, assessed through thematic analysi...

Conducting qualitative research, especially in areas considered 'sensitive', presents many challenges. The processes involved in such research often expose both participants and the research team to a vast array of risks, which may cause damage to their personal, professional, social and cultural worlds. Historically, these risks have been consider...

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability and measure the effects of a mindfulness intervention compared to a pregnancy support program on stress, depressive symptoms and awareness of present moment experience. Design: A pilot randomised trial using mixed methods. Participants and setting: Forty-eight women attending a maternit...

In many countries, including Australia, new mothers return to employment before their child is 12 months old (Marinelli et al., Breastfeed Med 8(1):137–142. doi:10. 1089/ bfm. 2013. 9999, 2013). During this time the woman and her infant undergo multiple transitions. They need to adjust to time away from each other, new significant caregivers and ch...

Background The use of complementary therapies is becoming increasingly prevalent. This has important implications for nurses in terms of patient care and safety. Objective The aim of this meta-synthesis is to review critically, appraise and synthesize the existing qualitative research to develop a new, more substantial interpretation of nurses' at...

Emerging evidence suggests substantial health benefits from using meditation. While there are some indications that the popularity of meditation is increasing, little is known about the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of meditation use in the general population. In this secondary analysis of data from the 2012 US National Health Interview Surv...

Objective: Nausea, vomiting and reflux are common conditions experienced by women during pregnancy. The objective of this project was to examine women’s use of health services for these conditions. Methods: The study sample was obtained via the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. A total of 2,445 women who were pregnant or who had rece...

Background: Low back pain and pelvic girth pain are common in pregnancy and women commonly utilize complementary manual therapies such as massage, spinal manipulation, chiropractic, and osteopathy to manage their symptoms. Objective: The aim of this systematically review was to critically appraise and synthesize the best available evidence regar...

Introduction: Sleeping problems and fatigue in pregnancy are often accepted as a normal part of pregnancy; however, these conditions can be linked to serious consequences for both the mother and child. Despite established links between sleeping disturbance and a wide range of pregnancy complications, little is known about the health-care utilisati...

Common discomforts of pregnancy experienced in the lower extremity include sciatica, leg cramps and varicose veins. Whilst research attention has focused on aetiology and outcomes, the health service utilisation of pregnant women suffering from these complaints has been largely overlooked. To examine the health status and health service utilisation...

Background: The qualitative systematic review is a rapidly developing area of nursing research. In order to present trustworthy, high-quality recommendations, such reviews should be based on a review protocol to minimize bias and enhance transparency and reproducibility. Although there are a number of resources available to guide researchers in de...

Background and objectives: The PICU is the most common site for inpatient pediatric deaths worldwide. The impact of this clinical context on family experiences of their child's death is unclear. The objective of the study was to review and synthesize the best available evidence exploring the family experience of the death of their child in the PIC...

Background: Perinatal stress is associated with adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Mindfulness training may offer a safe and acceptable strategy to support perinatal mental health. Aim: To critically appraise and synthesise the best available evidence regarding the effectiveness of mindfulness training during pregnancy to support perinatal me...

Objectives Yoga practice during pregnancy is gaining increasing popularity. This study examined the characteristics of pregnant women who practiced yoga in regard to the different locations (at home, in yoga classes, or both). Design The study sample was drawn from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH), a national longitudinal...

We examined the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2012 to explore how US adult consumers of CAM differ by gender in terms of their sociodemographic characteristics, current health conditions, and perceived benefits of CAM. All individuals who completed the adults core interviews ( = 34,525) were included. CAM use, major sociodemographic varia...

Background: Many pregnant women use complementary and alternative medicine. Although midwives are often supportive, how they communicate with women about the safe use of these therapies has received limited research attention. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how midwives interact with women regarding use of complementary and alternativ...

Objective To examine factors that influence the establishment and continuation of breastfeeding among women living in a southern region of Victoria. Method Sequential mixed methods design including paper-based survey and focus group enquiry. Finding Women who had breastfed their infants (n = 170) reported reliance on midwives, lactation consultan...

PurposeTo review, critique and synthesise current research studies that examine parental perceptions of healthcare provider actions during and after the death of a child.Conclusions Five main themes were synthesised from the literature: staff attitudes and affect; follow-up care and ongoing contact; communication; attending to the parents; and cont...

Objective to explore the views of midwives and maternal–child health nurses regarding factors that influence breast feeding initiation and continuation, focusing on how support for women could be improved to increase breast feeding duration. Design a focus group study. Setting hospital or domiciliary (home-visiting) midwives and community-based m...

Breastfeeding Is Of Benefit to both infants and mothers (World Health Organization [WHO], 2009). WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to the age of six months and continued breastfeeding up to two years of age. For mothers returning to work or study during the first 12 months of the infants' life, the issue of how to best support breastfeeding...

The use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy is common. However, many modalities have not been well researched and safety concerns have been raised. This article describes a grounded theory study which explored how midwives interact with women regarding use of these therapies. Participants were recruited from metropolitan hosp...

Working women need to juggle work, child care and family to continue to breastfeed. This qualitative study's aim was to explore women's experiences of returning to work following the birth of their baby. Focus groups were held with women within one multi-campus university, who had commenced breastfeeding at birth and had returned to work or study w...

BACKGROUND: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to manage pregnancy-related conditions is becoming increasingly popular. This article draws on a qualitative study that aimed to explain the processes midwives engaged when determining the role of these therapies for pregnancy care. METHODOLOGY: Our study used grounded theory metho...

Background: Obesity and overweight are common issues for pregnant women and their healthcare providers. Obesity in pregnancy is associated with poorer maternal and perinatal outcomes and presents particular challenges in day-to-day clinical practice. Question: The aim of this study was to examine midwifery clinical practice for obese pregnant wo...

IntroductionResearch indicates that many midwives support the use of complementary and alternative medicine to manage the normal challenges of pregnancy and birth. However, midwives’ responses involve highly complex processes and assuming that their positive views will translate into advocacy of the therapies in practice fails to appreciate the imp...

To explore the evolution of grounded theory and equip the reader with a greater understanding of the diverse conceptual positioning that is evident in the methodology. Grounded theory was developed during the modernist phase of research to develop theories that are derived from data and explain human interaction. Its philosophical foundations deriv...

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy has become increasingly popular over the past decade in Australia. Aim: The purpose of this discussion paper to make recommendations and foster a constructive debate regarding the appropriate response by the midwifery profession. Discussion: Midwives should receive...

Midwives commonly endorse the use of complementary medicine. However many work in hospitals where there can be significant opposition to use of these therapies. This paper describes how one group of midwives negotiated the conflicting perspectives. Grounded theory was employed. Twenty five participants were recruited from metropolitan hospitals in...

Aim: This paper addresses issues arising in the literature regarding the environmental design of inpatient healthcare settings and their impact on care. Background: Environmental design in healthcare settings is an important feature of the holistic delivery of healthcare. The environmental influence of the delivery of care is manifested by such...

Background: Learning undertaken through clinical placements provides up to 50% of the educational experience for students in pre-registration midwifery courses. However little is known about of the impact various models of clinical placement have on the learning experiences of undergraduate midwifery students. Two clinical placement models have be...

Grounded theory focuses on human behavior and perceptions and the factors that influence them. Through an inductive research approach, it facilitates the development of theories directly from data and is particularly useful when little is known about the area of interest. Grounded theory is an ideal research approach for exploring how midwives and...

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become increasingly prevalent in industrialised countries, with women being the most prolific users. Some women continue to consume these therapies when they become pregnant. To review the literature exploring prevalence and motivation for use of complementary and alternative medicine by p...

There is evidence that the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by childbearing women is becoming increasingly popular in industrialised countries. The aim of this is paper is to review the research literature investigating the midwives' support for the use of these therapies. A search for relevant research published from 2000 to 2009 was...

to describe Australian midwifery academics' perceptions of the current barriers and enablers for simulation in midwifery education in Australia and the potential and resources required for simulation to be increased. a series of 11 focus groups/interviews were held in all states and territories of Australia with 46 participating academics nominated...

Background: Many pregnant women are affected by nausea and vomiting and some will use complementary medicine to manage their symptoms. Although the evidence of safety and efficacy for many of these therapies is predominantly anecdotal, over the past decade there have been an increasing number of clinical trials investigating their effects. This pap...

Induction of labour is a common obstetric procedure. Some women are likely to turn to complementary and alternative medicine in order to avoid medical intervention. The aim of this paper is to examine the scientific evidence for the use of complementary and alternative medicine to stimulate labour. An initial search for relevant literature publishe...

Currently there is very limited research on efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine when consumed by pregnant women. Yet the lack of scientific validation does not appear to be a deterrent and these therapies are becoming increasingly popular with both expectant mothers and midwives. Evidence-based practice provides a structur...

Current exclusive breastfeeding rates in Victoria do not meet World Health Organization (WHO) recommended standards. This study describes the reasons for early cessation of breastfeeding from the perspectives of the mothers, midwives and maternal and child health (M&CH) nurses in Frankston, Victoria. Interviews were conducted with women who had cea...