Positions

Overview

  • Dr. Allison Shorten, Professor in Nursing, serves as Director of UAB Office of Interprofessional Curriculum. An Australian registered nurse and midwife, Dr. Shorten is internationally recognized for her trailblazing Birth Choices decision aid research. A fellow of the Australian College of Midwives, she has made significant contributions to the midwifery profession and international research supporting shared decision making in pregnancy. Dr. Shorten, an expert in evidence based curriculum design, is known for her dynamic and innovative approaches to support student learning, and dedication to teaching excellence and mentorship.
  • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title Altmetric
    2023 Learning from women: Improving experiences of respectful maternity care during unplanned caesarean birth for women with diverse ethnicity and racial backgroundsWomen and Birth.  36:e125-e133. 2023
    2023 Interprofessional team-based education: A comparison of in-person and online learner experiences by method of delivery and health professionJournal of Professional Nursing.  44:26-32. 2023
    2023 Tools for Screening and Measuring Anxiety Among Women Living with HIV of Reproductive Age: A Scoping ReviewAIDS and Behavior2023
    2022 Factors influencing birth setting decision making in the United States: An integrative review 2022
    2022 Improving Quality in Neonatal Care Through Competency-Based Simulation 2022
    2022 Maternal-infant bonding for the opioid exposed dyad: A rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis 2022
    2022 Promoting Shared Decision Making About Birth After Cesarean in Haitian WomenJournal of Perinatal Education.  31:216-226. 2022
    2021 Academic service-learning nursing partnerships in the Americas: a scoping reviewBMC Nursing.  20. 2021
    2021 Patient, Nurse, Medical Assistant, and Surgeon Perspectives Inform the Development of a Decision Support Tool for Inguinal Hernia Surgery: A Qualitative Analysis 2021
    2021 “I had to fight for my VBAC”: A mixed methods exploration of women’s experiences of pregnancy and vaginal birth after cesarean in the United States 2021
    2021 Birth choices after caesarean in Taiwan: A mixed methods pilot study of a decision aid for shared decision makingMidwifery.  95. 2021
    2021 Listening to Haitian women and their health care providers: Insight into shared decision-making after cesarean sectionJournal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.  32:931-947. 2021
    2021 The Perspectives of Women and Their Health-Care Providers Regarding Using an ECA to Support Mode of Birth DecisionsJournal of Perinatal Education.  30:135-144. 2021
    2020 Using a standardized patient model for interprofessional team training in social workAdvances in Social Work.  20:355-370. 2020
    2020 A Shared Decision-Making Toolkit for Mode of Birth After Cesarean.Journal of Perinatal Education.  29:35-49. 2020
    2020 Highlighting Simulation Practices in the Neonatal Environment 2020
    2019 Birth choices for women in a ‘Positive Birth after Caesarean' clinic: Randomised trial of alternative shared decision support strategiesAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.  59:684-692. 2019
    2019 A Study to Assess the Feasibility of Implementing a Web-Based Decision Aid for Birth after Cesarean to Increase Opportunities for Shared Decision Making in Ethnically Diverse Settings 2019
    2019 Strengthening universal health: Development of a nursing and midwifery education quality improvement toolkit 2019
    2018 Development of a 'patient rights' subscale to measure informed decision making within the Dyadic Decisional Conflict Scale for obstetric careJournal of Nursing Measurement.  26:523-543. 2018
    2018 Using a pregnancy decision support program for women choosing birth after a previous caesarean in Japan: A mixed methods studyWomen and Birth.  31:e9-e19. 2018
    2018 Nursing issuesEvidence-Based Nursing.  21:4-6. 2018
    2017 A cluster-randomized trial to reduce major perinatal morbidity among women with one prior cesarean delivery in Québec (PRISMA trial): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trialTrials.  18. 2017
    2017 Midwifery and women's healthEvidence-Based Nursing.  20:70-73. 2017
    2017 Mixed methods research: Expanding the evidence baseEvidence-Based Nursing.  20:74-75. 2017
    2017 Ethical context of nursing researchEvidence-Based Nursing.  20:7. 2017
    2017 Looking for zebras and finding horses: A qualitative narrative study of pre-RN licensure nursing Students' experience of a “normal” postnatal simulationNurse Education Today.  48:185-189. 2017
    2016 The Effect of Evidence-Based Scripted Midwifery Counseling on Women's Choices About Mode of Birth After a Previous Cesarean 2016
    2016 Using observational research to obtain a picture of nursing practiceEvidence-Based Nursing.  19:66-67. 2016
    2016 Trends in birth choices after caesarean section in Japan: A national survey examining information and access to vaginal birth after caesareanMidwifery.  37:49-56. 2016
    2016 Inspired by the midwives of Japan: A journey to expand the horizons of midwifery students - Part 2 2016
    2015 Inspired by the midwives of Japan: A journey to expand the horizons of midwifery students - Part 1 2015
    2015 Developing an Internet-Based Decision Aid for Women Choosing Between Vaginal Birth After Cesarean and Planned Repeat Cesarean 2015
    2015 What is an Odds Ratio? What does it mean?Evidence-Based Nursing.  18:98-99. 2015
    2015 Which statistical tests should I use?Evidence-Based Nursing.  18:2-3. 2015
    2014 Continuing professional development 2014
    2014 A Model of Adaptation of Overseas Nurses: Exploring the Experiences of Japanese Nurses Working in AustraliaJournal of Transcultural Nursing.  25:183-191. 2014
    2014 Complexities of choice after prior cesarean: A narrative analysis 2014
    2014 Differences between patient and provider perceptions of informed decision making about epidural analgesia use during childbirth.Journal of Perinatal Education.  23:104-112. 2014
    2014 Patient and provider perceptions of decision making about use of epidural analgesia during childbirth: a thematic analysis.Journal of Perinatal Education.  23:142-150. 2014
    2014 Selecting the sampleEvidence-Based Nursing.  17:32-33. 2014
    2014 Service evaluation, audit and research: What is the difference?Evidence-Based Nursing.  17:65-66. 2014
    2014 The challenge of preconception counseling: Using reproductive life planning in primary careJournal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.  26:255-262. 2014
    2014 Timing the provision of a pregnancy decision-aid: Temporal patterns of preference for mode of birth during pregnancyPatient Education and Counseling.  97:108-113. 2014
    2013 Exploring Women's Values, Choices, Expectations, and Outcomes for Birth After Cesarean 2013
    2013 Hypothesis testing and p values: How to interpret results and reach the right conclusionsEvidence-Based Nursing.  16:36-37. 2013
    2013 Sharing decisions with patients: Small things do matter 2013
    2013 What is meta-analysis?Evidence-Based Nursing.  16:3-4. 2013
    2012 Decision aid tools to support women's decision making in pregnancy and birth: A systematic review and meta-analysisSocial Science and Medicine.  74:1968-1978. 2012
    2012 Success, satisfaction and postnatal health: The importance of mode of birth after previous cesarean 2012
    2012 The Importance of Mode of Birth After Previous Cesarean: Success, Satisfaction, and Postnatal Health 2012
    2011 Midwives and pregnant women talk about alcohol: What advice do we give and what do they receive?Midwifery.  27:489-496. 2011
    2010 Bridging the gap between mothers and medicine: "New insights" from the NIH consensus conference on VBAC 2010
    2009 Independent midwifery care versus NHS care in the UKBritish medical journal.  338:1454. 2009
    2008 The birth of 'MidPLUS': Australia's new national continuing professional development program for midwivesWomen and Birth.  21:55-64. 2008
    2007 Maternal and neonatal effects of caesarean sectionBritish medical journal.  335:1003-1004. 2007
    2007 What happens when a private hospital comes to town?. The impact of the 'public' to 'private' hospital shift on regional birthing outcomesWomen and Birth.  20:49-55. 2007
    2007 Update on the "National Continuing Professional Development Project" 2007
    2006 Update on the "National Continuing Professional Development Project" 2006
    2005 The "public" to "private" hospital shift: What happens to birthing women? (Published Research Paper) 2005
    2005 The challenge of implementing clinical guidelinesEvidence Based Healthcare and Public Health.  9:276-277. 2005
    2005 A decision-aid for making informed choices about birth after caesarean 2005
    2005 Making choices for childbirth: a randomized controlled trial of a decision-aid for informed birth after cesarean. 2005
    2005 Towards understanding the impact of gestational diabetes on breastfeedingBirth Issues.  14:18-22. 2005
    2004 Making informed choices for childbirth: A better start for mother and baby. (Award Winning Research Paper) 2004
    2004 Reviewing the evidence on birth in NSW hospitals: What did we find and what does it mean 2004
    2004 Impact of private health insurance incentives on obstetric outcomes in NSW hospitals.Australian Health Review.  27:27-38. 2004
    2004 Making choices for childbirth: Development and testing of a decision-aid for women who have experienced previous caesareanPatient Education and Counseling.  52:307-313. 2004
    2004 Response: public and private intervention rates in obstetric practiceAustralian Health Review.  28:105-106. 2004
    2003 Impact of private health insurance incentives on obstetric outcomes in NSW hospitals. (Research Paper Published) 2003
    2002 Birth position, accoucheur, and perineal outcomes: Informing women about choices for vaginal birth 2002
    2002 INR SELECTION 情報リテラシーの育成:エビデンスに基づく看護の鍵 2002
    2002 Perineal outcomes in NSW public and private hospitals: analysing recent trends.Women and Birth.  15:5-10. 2002
    2001 Developing information literacy: A key to evidence-based nursingInternational Nursing Review.  48:86-92. 2001
    2001 Obstetric intervention among private and public patients in AustraliaBritish medical journal.  322:430. 2001
    2001 Letters: Obstetric intervention among private and public patients in Australia: Women must have full information when choosing private health insurance for pregnancyBritish medical journal2001
    2000 Rates for obstetric intervention among private and public patients in Australia: population based descriptive study.British medical journal.  321:137-141. 2000
    2000 Teaching information literacy skills: An evaluationNurse Education Today.  20:485-489. 2000
    2000 Women's choice? The impact of private health insurance on episiotomy rates in Australian hospitalsMidwifery.  16:204-212. 2000
    1999 Integrating information literacies into an undergraduate nursing programmenNurse Education Today.  19:136-141. 1999
    1999 Childbirth education classes: Understanding patterns of attendanceBirth Issues1999
    1999 Episiotomy in NSW hospitals 1993-1996: towards understanding variations between public and private hospitals.Australian Health Review.  22:18-32. 1999
    1998 Commentary: Review: Previous caesarean delivery or abortion increases the risk of placenta praeviaEvidence-Based Nursing.  1:85. 1998
    1998 Review: Previous caesarean delivery or abortion increases the risk of placenta praevia. (Invited Commentary) 1998
    1998 Childbirth education: Do classes meet consumer expectationsBirth Issues1998
    1998 Evidence based practice: We don't have a choice 1998
    1998 Trial of labour versus elective repeat caesarean section: a cost-effectiveness analysis.Australian Health Review.  21:8-28. 1998
    1997 Paving the way: Stepping stones to evidence-based nursingInternational Journal of Nursing Practice.  3:147-152. 1997
    1997 Evidence-based practice. When quality counts. 1997
    1997 Taking the first steps: Information literacy, a tool for developing an evidence-based approach to nursing 1997
    1996 Evidence based practice. The future is clear. 1996
    1996 Economic evaluation of caesarean section: Trial of labour versus elective repeat caesarean section 1996
    1996 The video assessment strategy: improving student learning and reducing stress.Nurse Educator.  21. 1996
    1995 Care that cannot wait: a personal reflection on inflammatory bowel disease. 1995
    1995 Female circumcision: Understanding special needsHolistic Nursing Practice.  9:66-73. 1995
    1995 Obstetric early discharge versus traditional hospital stay.Australian Health Review.  18:19-39. 1995

    Book

    Year Title Altmetric
    2012 Birth Choices: What is best for you...vaginal or caesarean birth? (New Zealand edition) 2012
    2011 Donner naissance après une cesarienne s'informer pour mieux choisir. (Canadian French edition) 2011
    2008 Birth choices: What is best for you...vaginal or caesarean birth? (Japanese edition) 2008
    2007 Preparing consumers for shared decisions: Analyzing the effectiveness of a decision-aid for women making choices about birth after caesarean 2007
    2007 Birth Choices: What is best for you...vaginal or caesarean birth 2007
    2006 Birth Choices: What is best for you...vaginal or caesarean birth? A decision-aid for women making choices about birth after caesarean section. (2nd edition) 2006
    2000 Birth choices: What is best for you...vaginal or caesarean birth? A decision-aid for women making choices about birth after caesarean section. (1st edition) 2000

    Chapter

    Year Title Altmetric
    2007 Caesarean section: A midwife's view 2007

    Research Overview

  • Development, evaluation and implementation of patient decision aids; shared decision making in pregnancy and birth; using information technology to integrate decision aids into healthcare systems; identifying determinants of birth outcomes; promoting physiological birth; translating evidence into practice; using simulation in healthcare education; developing interprofessional curriculum to promote high quality healthcare.
  • Full Name

  • Allison Shorten