Stollery Research Initiative

2021 Stollery Charitable Foundation: Impact Report
2019 Stollery Charitable Foundation: Impact Report

Stollery Midwifery Research Initiative Overview

The Stollery Midwifery Research Initiative, supported by the Stollery Charitable Foundation, aimed to advance midwifery education, research, and clinical practice in British Columbia. By funding innovative research projects, the initiative provided critical data to inform policy, improve clinical practices, and elevate the role of midwives in healthcare. The initiative also emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge translation to strengthen maternal and newborn care in diverse communities.

Key Research Projects

1. Addressing Burnout and Attrition in BC Midwifery

  • Team Leads: Alix Bacon, Kathrin Stoll
  • Focus: Developed strategies to combat occupational stress and prevent attrition among BC midwives. Key recommendations included:
    • Introducing health benefits and pensions.
    • Expanding off-call job opportunities.
    • Supporting midwives with complex caseloads.

2. Water Immersion Birth Outcomes

  • Team Leads: Kathrin Stoll, Luba Butska
  • Focus: Conducted a retrospective analysis comparing outcomes for water births versus land births. The study aimed to identify the safest candidates for water birth and assess its risks and benefits for mothers and newborns.

3. Home Birth After Cesarean (HBAC) Outcomes

  • Team Leads: Zoë Hodgson, Dr. Ruth Comfort
  • Focus: Evaluated the safety and success rates of planned home births after cesarean versus hospital vaginal births after cesarean (VBAC). Findings supported midwives in guiding patient decision-making with population-specific data.

4. Complex Care in Midwifery

  • Team Leads: Luba Butska, Kathrin Stoll
  • Focus: Explored the concept of complexity in midwifery care, analyzing data on medical and non-medical factors affecting client outcomes. Findings highlighted the increasing complexity of midwifery clientele and informed educational and policy frameworks.

5. Mentorship for Maternity Nurses

  • Team Leads: Tanya Momtazian
  • Focus: Launched a mentorship program pairing midwives with novice maternity nurses in rural areas, addressing gaps in maternity care. The program provided hands-on training and fostered collaborative care models.

Funding Details of the Stollery Midwifery Research Initiative

Teams were awarded funds in 2018 and 2019 and had a couple of years to complete their work. Awardee teams included Alix Bacon, Luba Butska, Kathrin Stoll, Jane Wines, Tanya Momtazian, and Kelly Hayes.

The funding came through the care provided to Natalie Amram by a grateful family.

Origins of Funding

  • The Stollery Charitable Foundation, based in Alberta and British Columbia, provided significant financial support for the initiative.
  • The foundation focuses on enhancing healthcare, education, and community well-being, with a particular emphasis on underserved populations and innovative approaches.

Funding Amount

  • The Stollery Charitable Foundation contributed a total of $500,000 to support midwifery research in British Columbia.
  • This funding was allocated over a multi-year period to sustain various research initiatives, enhance clinical education, and develop interdisciplinary projects aimed at improving maternal and newborn care.

Purpose of the Funding

The funds were dedicated to:

  1. Research Support:
    • Enabled key studies addressing burnout, complex care, and birth outcomes, among other critical topics.
    • Provided resources for retrospective data analysis and new research methodologies.
  2. Education and Training:
    • Facilitated mentorship programs for rural maternity nurses in collaboration with midwives.
    • Enhanced midwifery education through research integration.
  3. Knowledge Translation:
    • Supported efforts to disseminate research findings to policymakers, educators, and clinicians.
    • Informed evidence-based changes in midwifery practice and healthcare policies.
  4. Infrastructure and Capacity Building:
    • Strengthened the ability of UBC Midwifery to undertake large-scale, impactful research projects.
    • Addressed systemic issues affecting midwifery care in British Columbia.

Impact

The Stollery Midwifery Research Initiative provided vital support to BC midwives and researchers, enabling them to:

  • Address gaps in maternity care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
  • Advance evidence-based practices in midwifery.
  • Foster interdisciplinary collaboration to improve maternal and newborn health.

This initiative’s legacy continues to shape midwifery education and practice, empowering midwives to advocate for better care and sustainable professional support systems.