Overview
Thermography is a non-invasive method, free from any limitations or contra-indications, which records infrared radiation emitted from the human body, allowing researchers gather information in real time. Already, the method has been used in psychophysiology and other disciplines enabling reliable diagnosis of emotions and thermal signatures (specific areas of the body have a certain temperature changes depend-ing on situations or feelings). At the same time, studies stated that it is essential for midwives to develop their understanding of emotion at work in order to improve their own working lives, and to meet the needs of childbearing women and their families. Also, they show the urgent need for research in this field in order to develop a body of knowledge to inform midwifery education and practice. The purpose of this interdisciplinary study is to evaluate the impact of midwifes’ consulting sessions on their emotional and psychological profile. At the same time effort to make a quantitative assessment of their body response will be attempted. Sub-goal of the study will be the correlation of thermal imaging data with: a) de-mographics and b) qualitative criteria and c) information generated from a questionnaire.
