Exploring family physicians' reasons to continue or discontinue providing intrapartum care: Qualitative descriptive study.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine the reasons why family physicians continue or discontinue providing intrapartum care in their clinical practice. DESIGN: Qualitative descriptive study. SETTING: Two hospitals located in a multicultural area of Montreal, Que, in November 2011 to June 2012. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen family physicians who were current or former providers of obstetric care. METHODS: Data were collected using semistructured qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview transcripts. MAIN FINDINGS: Three overarching themes that help create understanding of why family doctors continue to provide obstetric care were identified their attraction, often initiated by role models early in their careers, to practising complete continuity of care and accompanying patients in a special moment in their lives; the personal, family, and organizational pressures experienced while pursuing a family medicine career that includes obstetrics; and their ongoing reflection about continuing to practise obstetrics. CONCLUSION: The practice of obstetrics was very attractive to family physician participants whether they provided intrapartum care or decided to stop. More professional support and incentives might help keep family doctors practising obstetrics.