Australian women’s perceptions and practice of sleep position in late pregnancy: An online survey

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the consequences of experienced workplace incivility when female employees perceive that they are different from their workgroup. The authors examine how women’s perceptions of demographic dissimilarity from their workgroup moderate the relationships between incivility and psychological wellbeing, and between incivility and turnover intentions. Design/methodology/approach A total of 125 female employees of a post-secondary institution participated in this study. Participants were recruited through an electronic mailing list over the course of one month and completed an online survey. Findings Experienced workplace incivility among females is related to poorer psychological wellbeing and higher turnover intentions. Controlling for actual age and gender dissimilarity at the department level, perceived gender dissimilarity from one’s workgroup moderated the workplace incivility-turnover intentions relationship, whereby the relationship was strengthened at low, but not high levels of experienced incivility. Perceived gender dissimilarity did not moderate the incivility–psychological wellbeing relationship. Perceived age dissimilarity was not a significant moderator. Research limitations/implications The role of perceived dissimilarity and other personal contextual variables should be considered in future work on selective incivility. Perceived dissimilarity can influence some of the negative outcomes associated with incivility, particularly at low levels. Originality/value This research extends the selective incivility literature by incorporating a relational demography perspective to the study of female targets’ experience of workplace incivility. Findings suggest that perceptions of difference may affect the interpretation and outcomes associated with females’ experience of incivility.

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Modifying Maternal Sleep Position in Late Pregnancy Through Positional Therapy: A Feasibility Study

Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine ◽

10.5664/jcsm.7280 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 14 (08) ◽

pp. 1387-1397 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jane Warland ◽

Jillian Dorrian ◽

Allan J. Kember ◽

Craig Phillips ◽

Ali Borazjani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feasibility Study ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Sleep Position ◽

Positional Therapy ◽

Maternal Sleep

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Sleep in the Supine Position During Pregnancy is Associated with Fetal Cerebral Redistribution

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9061773 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1773

Author(s):

Nicole Robertson ◽

Satomi Okano ◽

Sailesh Kumar

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Cardiac Function ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Supine Position ◽

Population Attributable Risk ◽

Fetal Brain ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Sleep Position ◽

Maternal Sleep ◽

Supine Sleep

The supine sleep position in late pregnancy is a major risk factor for stillbirth, with a population attributable risk of 5.8% and one in four pregnant women reportedly sleeping in a supine position. Although the mechanisms linking the supine sleep position and late stillbirth remain unclear, there is evidence that it exacerbates pre-existing maternal sleep disordered breathing, which is another known risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. Given that maternal sleep position is a potentially modifiable risk factor, the aim of this study was to characterize and correlate uteroplacental and fetal hemodynamics, including cardiac function, in a cohort of women with apparently uncomplicated pregnancies with their nocturnal sleep position. This was a prospective observational cohort study at an Australian tertiary obstetric hospital. Women were asked to complete a series of questions related to their sleep position in late pregnancy after 35 weeks of completed gestation. They also underwent an ultrasound assessment where Doppler indices of various fetoplacental vessels and fetal cardiac function were measured. Regional cerebral perfusion was also assessed. Pregnancy outcome data was extracted from the electronic hospital database for analysis. A total of 274 women were included in the final analysis. Of these, 78.1% (214/274) reported no supine sleep, and 21.9% (60/274) reported going to sleep in a supine position. The middle cerebral artery, anterior cerebral artery, and vertebral artery pulsatility indices were all significantly lower in the supine sleep cohort, as was the cerebroplacental ratio. There were no significant differences in the mode or indication for delivery or in serious neonatal outcomes, including 5-min Apgar score < 7, acidosis, and neonatal intensive care unit admission between cohorts. Women in the supine cohort were more likely to have an infant with a BW > 90th centile (p = 0.04). This data demonstrates fetal brain sparing in association with the maternal supine sleep position in a low-risk population. This data contributes to the growing body of literature attempting to elucidate the etiological pathways responsible for the association of late stillbirth with the maternal supine sleep position.

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A woman’s place is in theatre: women’s perceptions and experiences of working in surgery from the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland women in surgery working group

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024349 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. e024349 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Maria Irene Bellini ◽

Yitka Graham ◽

Catherine Hayes ◽

Roxanna Zakeri ◽

Rowan Parks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Great Britain ◽

Gender Stereotypes ◽

Online Survey ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Surgical Specialty ◽

Women’S Perceptions ◽

Social Media Platforms ◽

Male Dominated ◽

Constant Comparative Analysis

ObjectiveSurgery remains an inherently male-dominated profession. The aim of this study was to survey women working within the discipline, to understand their current perceptions, providing insight into their practical day-to-day lives, supporting an action-oriented change.Design and settingThe link to a confidential, online survey was distributed through the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI) social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter over a 2-week period in October 2017.ParticipantsWomen working in surgical specialties and actively responding to the link shared through the ASGBI social media platforms. No patients were involved in the study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresData were analysed through a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative data were analysed through descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis was undertaken using a constant comparative analysis of the participants’ comments, to identify salient patterns (themes).ResultsA total of 81 female participants replied (42% response rate based on the Facebook group members), with 88% (n=71) perceiving surgery as a male-dominated field. Over half had experienced discrimination (59%, n=47), while 22% (n=18) perceived a ‘glass ceiling’ in surgical training. Orthopaedics was reported as the most sexist surgical specialty by 53% (n=43). Accounts of gendered language in the workplace were reported by 59% (n=47), with 32% (n=25) of surveys participants having used it. Overall, a lack of formal mentorship, inflexibility towards part-time careers, gender stereotypes and poor work–life balance were the main perceived barriers for women in surgical careers.ConclusionThese findings highlight the implicit nature of the perceived discrimination that women report in their surgical careers. The ASGBI acknowledges these perceptual issues and relative implications as the first of many steps to create an action-oriented change by allowing all staff, regardless of gender, to reflect on their own behaviour, perceptions and the culture in which they work.

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Modification of maternal late pregnancy sleep position: a survey evaluation of a New Zealand public health campaign

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047681 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e047681

Author(s):

Robin S Cronin ◽

John M D Thompson ◽

Rennae S Taylor ◽

Jessica Wilson ◽

Karen F Falloon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

New Zealand ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Supine Position ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Late Pregnancy ◽

Sleep Position ◽

Public Health Campaign ◽

Health Campaign

IntroductionA ‘Sleep-On-Side When Baby’s Inside’ public health campaign was initiated in New Zealand in 2018. This was in response to evidence that maternal supine going-to-sleep position was an independent risk factor for stillbirth from 28 weeks’ gestation. We evaluated the success of the campaign on awareness and modification of late pregnancy going-to-sleep position through nationwide surveys.Methods and analysisTwo web-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted over 12 weeks in 2019–2020 in a sample of (1) pregnant women ≥28 weeks, primary outcome of going-to-sleep position; and (2) health professionals providing pregnancy care, primary outcome of knowledge of going-to-sleep position and late stillbirth risk. Univariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with supine going-to-sleep position.DiscussionThe survey of pregnant women comprised 1633 eligible participants. Going-to-sleep position last night was supine (30, 1.8%), non-supine (1597, 97.2%) and no recall (16, 1.0%). Supine position had decreased from 3.9% in our previous New Zealand-wide study (2012–2015). Most women (1412, 86.5%) had received sleep-on-side advice with no major resultant worry (1276, 90.4%). Two-thirds (918, 65.0%) had changed their going-to-sleep position based on advice, with most (611 of 918, 66.5%) reporting little difficulty. Supine position was associated with Māori (OR 5.05, 95% CI 2.10 to 12.1) and Asian-non-Indian (OR 4.20, 95% CI 1.27 to 13.90) ethnicity; single (OR 10.98, 95% CI 4.25 to 28.42) and cohabitating relationship status (OR 2.69, 95% CI 1.09 to 6.61); hospital-based maternity provider (OR 2.55, 95% CI 1.07 to 6.10); education overseas (OR 3.92, 95% CI 1.09 to 14.09) and primary-secondary level (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.32 to 6.08); and not receiving sleep-on-side advice (OR 6.70, 95% CI 3.23 to 13.92). The majority of health professionals (709 eligible participants) reported awareness of supine going-to-sleep position and late stillbirth risk (543, 76.6%).ConclusionMost pregnant women had received and implemented sleep-on-side advice without major difficulty or concern. Some groups of women may need a tailored approach to acquisition of going-to-sleep position information.

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