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Prof Lois McKellar's Outputs (44)

Midwives’ perceptions of the support they provide to new graduates and the role of the health service in Australia: A survey of midwives (2025)
Journal Article
Stulz, V. M., Cummins, A., Davis, D., Hastie, C., Sweet, L., Bradfield, Z., Griffiths, M., McKellar, L., Jefford, E., Sheehan, A., & Gray, M. (2025). Midwives’ perceptions of the support they provide to new graduates and the role of the health service in Australia: A survey of midwives. Women and Birth, 38(3), Article 101913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2025.101913

Problem
Evidence suggests new midwifery graduates are leaving the profession prematurely during the initial graduate years due to workplace stress.
Background
Graduate midwives are essential to provide a future midwifery workforce. Support for new... Read More about Midwives’ perceptions of the support they provide to new graduates and the role of the health service in Australia: A survey of midwives.

Exploring mothers' perspectives on the early mother-infant relationship to inform midwifery practice: A qualitative study (2024)
Journal Article
Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Fereday, J., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., & Gwilt, I. (2025). Exploring mothers' perspectives on the early mother-infant relationship to inform midwifery practice: A qualitative study. Midwifery, 140, Article 104200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2024.104200

Background
The mother-infant relationship plays a crucial role in individual and community health. The nature of the mother-infant relationship can influence the social and emotional development of the infant, impacting their lifelong health. Midwiv... Read More about Exploring mothers' perspectives on the early mother-infant relationship to inform midwifery practice: A qualitative study.

Strategies and interventions used to provide communication education for midwifery students. A scoping review (2024)
Journal Article
Rodriguez Martin, S., Greig, Y., Shaw, E., McKellar, L., & Kuipers, Y. (2024). Strategies and interventions used to provide communication education for midwifery students. A scoping review. Nurse Education in Practice, 78, Article 103995. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103995

Aim
To examine the current literature on educational strategies and interventions developed with the objective of teaching or enhancing communication skills of student midwives during their pre-registration education programmes.

Design
A scoping... Read More about Strategies and interventions used to provide communication education for midwifery students. A scoping review.

Evaluation of a pilot online education program to develop midwives’ knowledge, skill and confidence in perinatal mental health in rural South Australia (2024)
Journal Article
McKellar, L., Martinez, L., De Sousa Machado, T., Eden, A., Stoodley, C., & Adelson, P. (2024). Evaluation of a pilot online education program to develop midwives’ knowledge, skill and confidence in perinatal mental health in rural South Australia. Women and Birth, 37(2), 355-361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2023.11.005

One in five women will experience perinatal anxiety and/or depression. In South Australia, a rural health service identified a high proportion of women with risk of perinatal mental health challenges and sought additional education for midwives. In r... Read More about Evaluation of a pilot online education program to develop midwives’ knowledge, skill and confidence in perinatal mental health in rural South Australia.

The barometer of moral distress in midwifery: A pilot study (2024)
Journal Article
Foster, W., McKellar, L., Fleet, J.-A., Creedy, D., & Sweet, L. (2024). The barometer of moral distress in midwifery: A pilot study. Women and Birth, 37(3), Article 101592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101592

Background
Moral distress is a phenomena that occurs following a compromise to moral beliefs. Moral distress has been reported across health professions, including midwifery. Although there are validated tools to assess for moral distress, none have... Read More about The barometer of moral distress in midwifery: A pilot study.

‘There is no other option’: Exploring health care providers' experiences implementing regional multisite midwifery model of care in South Australia (2023)
Journal Article
McKellar, L., Fleet, J., & Adelson, P. (2024). ‘There is no other option’: Exploring health care providers' experiences implementing regional multisite midwifery model of care in South Australia. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32(1), 67-79. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.13066

Introduction
In the past 30 years, 60% of South Australia’s rural maternity units have closed. Evidence demonstrates midwifery models of care offer regional Australia sustainable birthing services. Five birthing sites within the York and Northern Re... Read More about ‘There is no other option’: Exploring health care providers' experiences implementing regional multisite midwifery model of care in South Australia.

Yourtime: The development and pilot of a perinatal mental wellbeing digital tool using a co-design approach (2023)
Journal Article
McKellar, L., Steen, M., Charlick, S., Andrew, J., Altieri, B., & Gwilt, I. (2023). Yourtime: The development and pilot of a perinatal mental wellbeing digital tool using a co-design approach. Applied Nursing Research, 73, Article 151714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2023.151714

Introduction
Maternal anxiety and depression are major public health issues with prevalence as high as one in five women. There is a need to focus on preventative strategies to enable women to self-monitor their mental health status during pregnancy... Read More about Yourtime: The development and pilot of a perinatal mental wellbeing digital tool using a co-design approach.

Moral distress in midwifery practice: A Delphi study (2023)
Journal Article
Foster, W., McKellar, L., Fleet, J.-A., & Sweet, L. (2023). Moral distress in midwifery practice: A Delphi study. Women and Birth, 36(5), e544-e555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2023.04.005

Background
Moral distress is a psychological concept that describes the harm associated with actions or inactions that oppose an individuals’ moral beliefs. Moral distress is linked to moral compromise in the workplace that may negatively impact men... Read More about Moral distress in midwifery practice: A Delphi study.

The role of midwives in supporting the development of the mother-infant relationship: a scoping review (2023)
Journal Article
Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., Fereday, J., & Gwilt, I. (2023). The role of midwives in supporting the development of the mother-infant relationship: a scoping review. BMC Psychology, 11(1), 71. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01092-8

Background: The mother-infant relationship is complex and dynamic, informing the psychological development of the infant through bonding and attachment. Positive early interactions influence the quality of this relationship. Midwives are well placed... Read More about The role of midwives in supporting the development of the mother-infant relationship: a scoping review.

Examining the transformation of midwifery education in Australia to inform future directions: an integrative review (2022)
Journal Article
McKellar, L., Graham, K., Sheehan, A., Fleet, J.-A., Sidebotham, M., & Sweet, L. (2023). Examining the transformation of midwifery education in Australia to inform future directions: an integrative review. Women and Birth, 36(2), 155-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2022.11.010

Background
Integral to quality midwifery practice is the education of midwives. Like other countries, Australia faces ongoing challenges in delivering midwifery education programs. Reasons include escalating program costs, challenges in securing mea... Read More about Examining the transformation of midwifery education in Australia to inform future directions: an integrative review.

Evaluation of a regional midwifery caseload model of care integrated across five birthing sites in South Australia: Women’s experiences and birth outcomes (2022)
Journal Article
Adelson, P., Fleet, J.-A., & McKellar, L. (2023). Evaluation of a regional midwifery caseload model of care integrated across five birthing sites in South Australia: Women’s experiences and birth outcomes. Women and Birth, 36(1), 80-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2022.03.004

Introduction
The ongoing closure of regional maternity services in Australia has significant consequences for women and communities. In South Australia, a regional midwifery model of care servicing five birthing sites was piloted with the aim of bri... Read More about Evaluation of a regional midwifery caseload model of care integrated across five birthing sites in South Australia: Women’s experiences and birth outcomes.

Exploring moral distress in Australian midwifery practice (2021)
Journal Article
Foster, W., McKellar, L., Fleet, J.-A., & Sweet, L. (2022). Exploring moral distress in Australian midwifery practice. Women and Birth, 35(4), 349-359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2021.09.006

Problem
Australian midwives are considering leaving the profession. Moral distress may be a contributing factor, yet there is limited research regarding the influence of moral distress on midwifery practice.

Background
Moral distress was first u... Read More about Exploring moral distress in Australian midwifery practice.

Moral distress in midwifery practice: A concept analysis (2021)
Journal Article
Foster, W., McKellar, L., Fleet, J., & Sweet, L. (2022). Moral distress in midwifery practice: A concept analysis. Nursing Ethics, 29(2), 364-383. https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330211023983

Research suggests that the incidence of moral distress experienced by health professionals is significant and increasing, yet the concept lacks clarity and remains largely misunderstood. Currently, there is limited understanding of moral distress in... Read More about Moral distress in midwifery practice: A concept analysis.

Using co-design to explore how midwives can support the emerging mother-infant relationship during the early postnatal period: Protocol for a mixed-method study (2021)
Journal Article
Stoodley, C., McKellar, L., Gwilt, I., Ziaian, T., Steen, M., & Fereday, J. (2021). Using co-design to explore how midwives can support the emerging mother-infant relationship during the early postnatal period: Protocol for a mixed-method study. JMIR Research Protocols, 10(6), https://doi.org/10.2196/29770

Background: The postnatal period can be a challenging time for women, with mothers experiencing a range of emotions. As a woman transitions to motherhood, she adjusts to a new sense of self and forms a new relationship with her infant. Becoming a mot... Read More about Using co-design to explore how midwives can support the emerging mother-infant relationship during the early postnatal period: Protocol for a mixed-method study.

Measuring organizational readiness for implementing change (ORIC) in a new midwifery model of care in rural South Australia (2021)
Journal Article
Adelson, P., Yates, R., Fleet, J.-A., & McKellar, L. (2021). Measuring organizational readiness for implementing change (ORIC) in a new midwifery model of care in rural South Australia. BMC Health Services Research, 21, Article 368. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06373-9

Background
The sustainability of Australian rural maternity services is under threat due to current workforce shortages. In July 2019, a new midwifery caseload model of care was implemented in rural South Australia to provide midwifery continuity of... Read More about Measuring organizational readiness for implementing change (ORIC) in a new midwifery model of care in rural South Australia.

Moving Beyond First Year: An Exploration of Staff and Student Experience (2021)
Journal Article
Birbeck, D., Mckellar, L., & Kenyon, K. (2021). Moving Beyond First Year: An Exploration of Staff and Student Experience. Student Success, 12(1), 82-92. https://doi.org/10.5204/ssj.1802

Transition pedagogy has had a major impact on the first year experience for higher education students in Australia. Similarly, there has been a significant focus on transitioning students from their final year of study to employment. Considerably few... Read More about Moving Beyond First Year: An Exploration of Staff and Student Experience.

Development and Validation of an Online Survey to Assess Perception of Diabetes Risk and Barriers and Facilitators to Weight Loss Following Gestational Diabetes (2021)
Journal Article
Gray, K. L., Grebenshchikova, M., O’Reilly, S. L., McKellar, L., Clifton, P. M., & Keogh, J. B. (2021). Development and Validation of an Online Survey to Assess Perception of Diabetes Risk and Barriers and Facilitators to Weight Loss Following Gestational Diabetes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2), Article 480. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020480

Our objective was to describe the development and validation of a survey investigating barriers to weight loss, perception of diabetes risk, and views of diet strategies following gestational diabetes (GDM). The survey underwent three stages of devel... Read More about Development and Validation of an Online Survey to Assess Perception of Diabetes Risk and Barriers and Facilitators to Weight Loss Following Gestational Diabetes.