Volunteering in an emergency project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: the experience of Italian midwives

Authors: Fumagalli, S., Iannuzzi, L., Toffolo, G., Anghileri, I., Losurdo, A., Rovelli, N., Riva, M.A. and Nespoli, A.

Journal: Public Health

Volume: 218

Pages: 75-83

eISSN: 1476-5616

ISSN: 0033-3506

DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.02.020

Abstract:

Objectives: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Region of Lombardy in Italy and its Regional Emergency Service (Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza [AREU]) created a dedicated 24/7 free phone service to help the Lombard population. After an invitation from their professional order, local midwives collaborated on the AREU project as volunteers to address the needs of women from antenatal to postnatal periods. The aim of this article was to explore the experiences of midwives who volunteered in the AREU project. Study design: This was a qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA). Methods: The experiences of midwives volunteering in AREU (N = 59) were explored using audio diaries. Written diaries were also offered as an alternative. Data collection took place between March and April 2020. Midwives were provided with semistructured guidance that indicated the main areas of interest of the study. The diaries were thematically analysed following a temporal criterion; a final conceptual framework was created from emerging themes and subthemes. Results: The following five themes were identified: (1) choosing to join the volunteer project, (2) the day-to-day difficulties, (3) strategies to cope with the unexpected, (4) professional relationships and (5) reflecting on the personal experience. Conclusions: This is the first study to investigate the experiences of Italian midwives who volunteered in a public health project during a pandemic/epidemic. According to participants, taking part in the volunteer activities was informed by and impacted on both their professional and personal lives. Overall, the experiences of midwives who volunteered in AREU were positive and of humanitarian value. Providing midwifery services within a multidisciplinary team for the benefit of public health represented both a challenge and personal/professional enrichment.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38311/

Source: Scopus

Volunteering in an emergency project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: the experience of Italian midwives.

Authors: Fumagalli, S., Iannuzzi, L., Toffolo, G., Anghileri, I., Losurdo, A., Rovelli, N., Riva, M.A. and Nespoli, A.

Journal: Public Health

Volume: 218

Pages: 75-83

eISSN: 1476-5616

DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.02.020

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Region of Lombardy in Italy and its Regional Emergency Service (Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza [AREU]) created a dedicated 24/7 free phone service to help the Lombard population. After an invitation from their professional order, local midwives collaborated on the AREU project as volunteers to address the needs of women from antenatal to postnatal periods. The aim of this article was to explore the experiences of midwives who volunteered in the AREU project. STUDY DESIGN: This was a qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA). METHODS: The experiences of midwives volunteering in AREU (N = 59) were explored using audio diaries. Written diaries were also offered as an alternative. Data collection took place between March and April 2020. Midwives were provided with semistructured guidance that indicated the main areas of interest of the study. The diaries were thematically analysed following a temporal criterion; a final conceptual framework was created from emerging themes and subthemes. RESULTS: The following five themes were identified: (1) choosing to join the volunteer project, (2) the day-to-day difficulties, (3) strategies to cope with the unexpected, (4) professional relationships and (5) reflecting on the personal experience. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate the experiences of Italian midwives who volunteered in a public health project during a pandemic/epidemic. According to participants, taking part in the volunteer activities was informed by and impacted on both their professional and personal lives. Overall, the experiences of midwives who volunteered in AREU were positive and of humanitarian value. Providing midwifery services within a multidisciplinary team for the benefit of public health represented both a challenge and personal/professional enrichment.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38311/

Source: PubMed

Volunteering in an emergency project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: the experience of Italian midwives

Authors: Fumagalli, S., Iannuzzi, L., Toffolo, G., Anghileri, I., Losurdo, A., Rovelli, N., Riva, M.A. and Nespoli, A.

Journal: PUBLIC HEALTH

Volume: 218

Pages: 75-83

eISSN: 1476-5616

ISSN: 0033-3506

DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.02.020

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38311/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Volunteering in an emergency project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: the experience of Italian midwives

Authors: Fumagalli, S., Iannuzzi, L., Toffolo, G., Anghileri, I., Losurdo, A., Rovelli, N., Riva, M. and Nespoli, A.

Journal: Public Health

Publisher: Elsevier

ISSN: 0033-3506

DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.02.020

Abstract:

Objectives During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Region of Lombardy in Italy and its Regional Emergency Service (AREU) created a dedicated 24/7 free phone service to help the Lombard population. After an invitation from their professional order, local midwives collaborated on the AREU project as volunteers to address the needs of women from antenatal to postnatal periods. The aim of this article was to explore the experiences of midwives who volunteered in the AREU project.

Study design A qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenology approach (IPA).

Methods The experiences of midwives volunteering in AREU (N = 59) were explored using audio diaries. Written diaries were also offered as an alternative. Data collection took place between March and April 2020. Midwives were provided with semi-structured guidance that indicated the main areas of interest of the study. The diaries were thematically analysed following a temporal criterion; a final conceptual framework was created from emerging themes and subthemes.

Results The following five themes were identified: (1) choosing to join the volunteer project; (2) the day-to-day difficulties; (3) strategies to cope with the unexpected; (4) professional relationships; and (5) reflecting on the personal experience.

Conclusions This is the first study to investigate the experiences of Italian midwives who volunteered in a public health project during a pandemic/epidemic. According to participants, taking part in the volunteer activities was informed by and impacted on both their professional and personal lives. Overall, the experiences of midwives who volunteered in AREU were positive and of humanitarian value. Providing midwifery services within a multidisciplinary team for the benefit of public health represented both a challenge and personal/professional enrichment.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38311/

Source: Manual

Volunteering in an emergency project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: the experience of Italian midwives.

Authors: Fumagalli, S., Iannuzzi, L., Toffolo, G., Anghileri, I., Losurdo, A., Rovelli, N., Riva, M.A. and Nespoli, A.

Journal: Public health

Volume: 218

Pages: 75-83

eISSN: 1476-5616

ISSN: 0033-3506

DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.02.020

Abstract:

Objectives

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Region of Lombardy in Italy and its Regional Emergency Service (Azienda Regionale Emergenza Urgenza [AREU]) created a dedicated 24/7 free phone service to help the Lombard population. After an invitation from their professional order, local midwives collaborated on the AREU project as volunteers to address the needs of women from antenatal to postnatal periods. The aim of this article was to explore the experiences of midwives who volunteered in the AREU project.

Study design

This was a qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA).

Methods

The experiences of midwives volunteering in AREU (N = 59) were explored using audio diaries. Written diaries were also offered as an alternative. Data collection took place between March and April 2020. Midwives were provided with semistructured guidance that indicated the main areas of interest of the study. The diaries were thematically analysed following a temporal criterion; a final conceptual framework was created from emerging themes and subthemes.

Results

The following five themes were identified: (1) choosing to join the volunteer project, (2) the day-to-day difficulties, (3) strategies to cope with the unexpected, (4) professional relationships and (5) reflecting on the personal experience.

Conclusions

This is the first study to investigate the experiences of Italian midwives who volunteered in a public health project during a pandemic/epidemic. According to participants, taking part in the volunteer activities was informed by and impacted on both their professional and personal lives. Overall, the experiences of midwives who volunteered in AREU were positive and of humanitarian value. Providing midwifery services within a multidisciplinary team for the benefit of public health represented both a challenge and personal/professional enrichment.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38311/

Source: Europe PubMed Central

Volunteering in an emergency project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: the experience of Italian midwives

Authors: Fumagalli, S., Iannuzzi, L., Toffolo, G., Anghileri, I., Losurdo, A., Rovelli, N., Riva, M.A. and Nespoli, A.

Journal: Public Health

Volume: 218

Pages: 75-83

Publisher: Elsevier

ISSN: 0033-3506

Abstract:

Objectives During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Region of Lombardy in Italy and its Regional Emergency Service (AREU) created a dedicated 24/7 free phone service to help the Lombard population. After an invitation from their professional order, local midwives collaborated on the AREU project as volunteers to address the needs of women from antenatal to postnatal periods. The aim of this article was to explore the experiences of midwives who volunteered in the AREU project.

Study design A qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenology approach (IPA).

Methods The experiences of midwives volunteering in AREU (N = 59) were explored using audio diaries. Written diaries were also offered as an alternative. Data collection took place between March and April 2020. Midwives were provided with semi-structured guidance that indicated the main areas of interest of the study. The diaries were thematically analysed following a temporal criterion; a final conceptual framework was created from emerging themes and subthemes.

Results The following five themes were identified: (1) choosing to join the volunteer project; (2) the day-to-day difficulties; (3) strategies to cope with the unexpected; (4) professional relationships; and (5) reflecting on the personal experience.

Conclusions This is the first study to investigate the experiences of Italian midwives who volunteered in a public health project during a pandemic/epidemic. According to participants, taking part in the volunteer activities was informed by and impacted on both their professional and personal lives. Overall, the experiences of midwives who volunteered in AREU were positive and of humanitarian value. Providing midwifery services within a multidisciplinary team for the benefit of public health represented both a challenge and personal/professional enrichment.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38311/

Source: BURO EPrints