tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999756148830009363.post6464771671420698745..comments2014-02-10T20:09:18.427-06:00Comments on The Misadventures of a Student Midwife (in the 21st C): DOR : MANA statslabrador teahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03341884212793328684noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999756148830009363.post-53486090071831902312011-01-20T08:59:54.909-06:002011-01-20T08:59:54.909-06:00I'm not really anonymous, just no good at blog...I'm not really anonymous, just no good at blogs and cannot figure out my profile. My name is Sarah and I am a student midwife in Phoenix AZ. Our practice does contribute to MANA stats. In fact, I am already enrolled and participating as an individual. We benefit individually by looking at our statistics. In typical numbers style, they have often shown that our perceptions may be a bit off. It is reassuring to clients to be able to see the numbers that prove we have good outcomes. I do support this collection which is why I elected to sign up immediately. <br /><br />Research data is vitally important for the western legitimization of midwifery. As much as we (as midwives) may operate on trust and feel this doesn't work for all (most) westerners. We are trained, in our culture, to ask for the "proof." A very Piscean age practice of wanting words and numbers, an inability to find our intuition causes us to rely on such dry statistics. In addition, the world is much to big for women to be able to "know" the local midwife - a good argument for keeping statistics as well as licensing.<br /><br />Obviously with self-reporting, there is always the risk of manipulating data. However, like any quality database, MANAstats is requiring Review Boards for any proposed studies and part of the agreement to be a participator is that you are willing to allow researchers to verify the data by examining your records. And researchers will randomly audit records; they have to take this step to demonstrate the accuracy of their data. You can read the project contributors application here https://www.manastats.org/docs/EnrollmentForm.pdf. <br /><br />Which brings me to your last point. A research database is never meant to be public knowledge; it is meant to be a tool for researchers to use and in the process of their research they establish "evidence-based" studies. Raw data requires interpretation and heavy statistics to be used in an effective manner because of self-reporting errors, sample grouping and sample sizes, etc. The raw database is exceptionally difficult to navigate and could easily be misinterpreted by someone who doesn’t understand the organization of the numbers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999756148830009363.post-80541149014438280732011-01-19T00:26:16.977-06:002011-01-19T00:26:16.977-06:00BUT!!! they are useful for establishing a personal...BUT!!! they are useful for establishing a personal database and statistical analysis.labrador teahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03341884212793328684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999756148830009363.post-87096737801247834472011-01-18T21:51:04.146-06:002011-01-18T21:51:04.146-06:00Yes, exactly.Yes, exactly.mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698247519889686663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999756148830009363.post-1605822909282943062011-01-18T21:45:37.971-06:002011-01-18T21:45:37.971-06:00I don't think MANA has a clear idea of how the...I don't think MANA has a clear idea of how the information WILL be used. They have clear suggestions on how it MAY be used. In the end they have final approval over research topics, which i personally find a bit dodgy.labrador teahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03341884212793328684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5999756148830009363.post-21800595918172011432011-01-18T17:51:25.232-06:002011-01-18T17:51:25.232-06:00If this information is not (made) public, it simpl...If this information is not (made) public, it simply won't be regarded as serious. People can deduct all they want from their private data but unless it withstands scrutiny, it is worthless. I also think that it is dangerous to base maternity care on study results and treat every woman as the middle data in the study. I am not the middle data, and in my case,'odds' were defied when the numbers said that I should have done x, y and z. This goes for so many women I know. So, not sure what those numbers would even be used for. <br />There is so much more to say about this.mariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698247519889686663noreply@blogger.com