Michelle Butler

Prof

Contact Details


Full Professor
Dublin City University
Glasnevin Campus
Dublin

E:Michelle.Butler@dcu.ie
Profile Photo

Michelle Butler joined DCU in January 2017 and has a strong track record as an academic leader and extensive teaching, assessment and curriculum development experience. She has over 30 years’ experience of research in midwifery, health services management, and nursing, in Canada, the UK and Ireland. Her particular expertise is in evaluation research, mixed methods, qualitative methods, case study, Delphi and consensus methods, and evidence synthesis. She also has a particular interest in building research capacity with clinical and health services partners. She is Chair of the REACH Collaboratory (a joint research partnership between DCU and the Health Services Executive, Dublin North City and County) and Director of the DCU REACH Centre. She has over 80 publications, 50 in peer-reviewed journals and a h-index of 30 (Google Scholar)/24 (Scopus).


Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2024 Hayes, K; Janssen, P; Payne, BA; Jevitt, C; Johnston, W; Johnson, P; Butler, M (2024) 'Oral Probiotic Supplementation in Pregnancy to Reduce Group B Streptococcus Colonisation (OPSiP trial): study protocol for a double-blind parallel group randomised placebo trial'. BMJ Open, 14 (2). [Link] [DOI]
2021 O'Brien, D.; Butler, M.M.; Casey, M. (2021) 'The importance of nurturing trusting relationships to embed shared decision-making during pregnancy and childbirth'. Midwifery, 98 . [Link] [DOI]
2020 Michelle M. Butler; Judith Fullerton; Cheryl Aman (2020) 'Competencies for respectful maternity care: Identifying those most important to midwives worldwide'. Birth, . [Link] [DOI]
2019 Judith Fullerton; Michelle Butler; Cheryl Aman; Tobi Reid (2019) 'Global competencies for midwives: external cephalic version; ultrasonography, and tobacco cessation intervention'. Women and Birth, . [Link] [DOI]
2019 (2019) 'Hospital nurse-staffing models and patient-and staff-related outcomes (Review)'. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, . [DOI]
2018 Butler, M.M.; Fullerton, J.T.; Aman, C. (2018) 'Competence for basic midwifery practice: Updating the ICM essential competencies'. Midwifery, 66 . [Link] [DOI]
2018 O'Brien, D.; Casey, M.; Butler, M.M. (2018) 'Women's experiences of exercising informed choices as expressed through their sense of self and relationships with others in Ireland: A participatory action research study'. Midwifery, 65 . [Link] [DOI]
2018 Fullerton, J; Butler, MM; Aman, C; Reid, T; Dowler, M (2018) 'Abortion-related care and the role of the midwife: a global perspective'. International Journal of Women's Health, 10 . [Link] [DOI]
2017 (2017) 'An exploration of the prevalence and patterns of care for women presenting with mid-trimester loss'. Irish Journal of Medical Science, . [DOI]
2017 (2017) 'A participatory action research study exploring women's understandings of the concept of informed choice during pregnancy and childbirth in Ireland'. Midwifery, . [Link] [DOI]
2017 Butler, MM (2017) 'Exploring the strategies that midwives in British Columbia use to promote normal birth'. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 17 (1). [Link] [DOI]
2016 Butler MM; Hutton EK; McNiven PS; (2016) 'Midwifery education in Canada'. Midwifery, . [DOI]
2015 Cornally, Paula, Butler, Michelle M, Murphy, Martina, Rath, Ann, Canty, Gillian (2015) 'Exploring women’s experiences of care in labour'. Evidence Based Midwifery, 12 (3):89-94.
2015 Gallagher HC; Gallagher RM; Butler M; Buggy DJ; Henman MC; (2015) 'Venlafaxine for neuropathic pain in adults'. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (8). [DOI]
2015 Martina Murphy; Michelle Butler; Barbara Coughlan; Donal Brennan; Colm O’Herlihy; Michael Robson (2015) 'Elevated amniotic fluid lactate predicts labor disorders and cesarean delivery in nulliparous women at term'. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, . [DOI]
2015 Butler MM; Sheehy L; Kington MM; Walsh MC; Brosnan MC; Murphy M; Naughton C; Drennan J; Barry T; (2015) 'Evaluating midwife-led antenatal care: choice, experience, effectiveness, and preparation for pregnancy'. Midwifery, 31 (4). [DOI]
2014 Butler MM; Brosnan MC; Drennan J; Feeney P; Gavigan O; Kington M; O'Brien D; Sheehy L; Walsh MC; (2014) 'Evaluating midwifery-led antenatal care: using a programme logic model to identify relevant outcomes'. Midwifery, 30 (1). [DOI]
2014 McGuinness, D, Coughlan, B, Butler, M (2014) 'An Exploration of the experiences of mothers as they suppress lactation following late miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death'. Evidence Based Midwifery, .
2014 (2014) 'An exploration of the experiences of mothers as they suppress lactation following late miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death'. Evidence Based Midwifery, .
2013 (2013) 'Evaluating midwifery-led antenatal care: using a programme logic model to identify relevant outcomes'. Midwifery, .
2012 (2012) 'The profile and follow-up of patients who attend the Emergency Department following a fall'. International Emergency Nursing, .
2012 (2012) 'Using a mixed methods research design to investigate complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use among women with breast cancer in Ireland'. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, .
2012 Butler, M,Collins, R,Drennan, J,Halligan, P,OMathuna, D P,Schultz, Timothy J,Sheridan, A,Vilis, Eileen (2012) 'Hospital nurse staffing models and patient and staff-related outcomes (Review)'. :1-73.
2012 Hyde, Abbey,Drennan, Jonathan,Howlett, Etaoine,Carney, Marie,Lin, W L,Lohan, Maria (2012) 'Parents' constructions of the sexual self-presentation and sexual conduct of adolescents: discourses of gendering and protecting'. 14 (8):895-909. [Link]
2012 (2012) 'An evaluation of the appropriateness and safety of nurse and midwife prescribing in Ireland'. Journal of Advanced Nursing, .
2012 (2012) 'Parents' constructions of the sexual self-presentation and sexual conduct of adolescents: discourses of gendering and protecting'. Culture, Health & Sexuality, .
2012 (2012) 'A profile of older emergency department attendees: Findings from an Irish study'. Journal of Advanced Nursing, .
2011 (2011) 'How different are older people discharged from Emergency Departments compared to those admitted to hospital?'. European Journal of Emergency Medicine, .
2011 (2011) 'Women's accounts of heterosexual experiences in the context of menopause'. International Journal of Sexual Health, .
2011 (2011) 'Preferred types of menopause service delivery: a qualitative study of menopausal women's perceptions'. International Journal of Healthcare Delivery Reform Intiatives, .
2011 (2011) 'The ending of menstruation: perspectives and experiences of lesbian and heterosexual women at menopause'. Journal of Women and Aging, .
2011 (2011) 'Patients' level of satisfaction and self-reports of intention to comply following consultation with nurses and midwives with prescriptive authority: a cross-sectional survey'. International Journal of Nursing Studies, .
2011 (2011) 'Boundary matters: clinical leadership and the distinctive disciplinary contribution of nursing to multidisciplinary contribution of nursing to multidisciplinary care'. Journal of Clinical Nursing, .
2011 (2011) 'Barriers to clinical leadership development: findings from a national survey'. Journal of Clinical Nursing, .
2010 (2010) 'Hormone therapy and the medical encounter: a qualitative analysis of women's experiences'. Menopause, .
2010 (2010) 'Menopause narratives: the interplay of women's embodied experiences with biomedical discourses'. Qualitative Health Research, .
2010 (2010) 'Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) use in Ireland: A secondary analysis of SLAN data'. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, .
2010 (2010) 'The silent treatment: parents' narratives of sexuality education with young people'. Culture, Health and Sexuality, .
2010 (2010) 'The role of health and non-health-related factors in repeat emergency department visits in an elderly urban population'. EMERGENCY MEDICINE JOURNAL, .
2009 (2009) 'Identifying research priorities for midwifery in Ireland'. Midwifery, .
2009 Butler, Michelle M,Meehan, Therese C,Kemple, Mary,Drennan, Jonathan,Treacy, Margaret,Johnson, Maree (2009) 'Identifying research priorities for midwifery in Ireland'. 25 (5):576-587. [Link]
2008 (2008) 'The experience of social and emotional loneliness among older people in Ireland'. AGEING & SOCIETY, .
2008 Butler, Michelle M,Fraser, Diane M,Murphy, Roger J L (2008) 'What are the essential competencies required of a midwife at the point of registration?'. 24 (3):260-269. [Link]
2008 (2008) 'What are the essential competencies required of a midwife at the point of registration?'. Midwifery, .
2008 Drennan, Jonathan,Treacy, Margaret,Lin, W L,Byrne, Anne,Fealy, Gerard,Frazer, Kate,Irving, Kate (2008) 'The experience of social and emotional loneliness among older people in Ireland'. 28 (08):1113-1132. [Link]
2007 (2007) 'Nursing Research Priorities for Ireland'. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, .
2006 (2006) 'Discursive practices in the documentation of patient assessments'. Journal of Advanced Nursing, .
2006 (2006) 'Social regulation, medicalisation and the nurse's role: Insights from an analysis of nursing documentation'. International Journal of Nursing Studies, .
2006 (2006) 'Towards a nursing minimum data set for Ireland: making Irish nursing visible'. Journal of Advanced Nursing, .
2006 (2006) 'Developing the Irish Nursing Minimum Data Set: findings of the pilot study'. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, .
2006 Butler, Michelle,Treacy, Margaret,Scott, Anne,Hyde, Abbey,Mac Neela, Pádraig,Irving, Kate,Byrne, Anne,Drennan, Jonathan (2006) 'Towards a nursing minimum data set for Ireland: making Irish nursing visible'. 55 (3):364-375. [Link]
2006 Hyde, Abbey,Treacy, Margaret M Pearl,Scott, Anne P,Mac Neela, Pádraig,Lin, W L,Drennan, Jonathan,Kate, Irving,Byrne, Anne (2006) 'Social regulation, medicalisation and the nurse's role: insights from an analysis of nursing documentation'. 43 (6):735-744.
2006 Irving, Kate,Treacy, Margaret,Scott, Annie,Hyde, Abbey,Lin, W L,MacNeela, Padraig (2006) 'Discursive practices in the documentation of patient assessments'. 53 (2):151-159.
2005 Hyde, Abbey,Treacy, Margaret P,Scott, P Anne,Lin, W L,Drennan, Jonathan,Irving, Kate,Byrne, Anne,MacNeela, Padraig,Hanrahan, Marian (2005) 'Modes of rationality in nursing documentation: biology, biography and the 'voice of nursing''. 12 (2):66-77. [Link]
2005 (2005) 'Modes of rationality in nursing documentation: biology, biography and the 'voice of nursing''. Nursing Inquiry, .
1996 Worth-Butler, Michelle M,Fraser, Diana M,Murphy, Roger J L (1996) 'Eliciting the views of experienced midwives about the assessment of competence in midwifery'. 12 (4):182-190. [Link]
1996 (1996) 'Eliciting the views of experienced midwives about the assessment of competence in midwifery'. Midwifery, .
1995 (1995) 'Developing a model of competence in midwifery: the consumer's perspective'. British Journal of Midwifery, .
1995 (1995) 'Exploring Relationships Between Ethnic Identity and Pregnancy Outcome and Some of the Factors Involved'. Studies In Equality, .
1995 (1995) 'Recognising Competence in Midwifery: The Need for a Definition'. British Journal of Midwifery, .
1994 Worth-Butler, M,Murphy, R J,Fraser, D M (1994) 'Towards an integrated model of competence in midwifery'. 10 (4):225-231. [Link]
1994 (1994) 'Towards a Definition of Competence in Midwifery'. Midwifery, .

Book

Year Publication
2002 Butler M (2002) Evaluation in the Irish Health Sector. Dublin: IPA.
2002 O'Sullivan T, Butler M (2002) Current Issues in Irish Health Management: A Comparative Review. Dublin: IPA.

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2013 (2013) 'Identifying Research Problems - Reviewing Research Priorities' In:
2012 (2012) 'The role of CAM: the different perspectives of patients, oncology professionals and CAM practitioners' In:
2010 (2010) 'Health Policy and Economics' In:
2013 Butler, M (2013) 'Chapter 3: Identifying Research Problems - Reviewing Research Priorities' In: Quantitative Health Research: Issues and Application. London : Open University Press.
2010 Butler M (2010) 'Health Policy and Economics' In: Leadership & Management in the Irish Health Service. Dublin : Gill and Macmillan.

Conference Publication

Year Publication
2014 (2014) ICM Triennial Conference A comparative evaluation of mid-wife led and traditional consultant-led models of antenatal care
2012 (2012) Nottingham International Conference for Education and Research in Midwifery Examining women's views of care in the delivery ward
2011 (2011) 16th Annual Cochrane Contributors Meeting The Cochrane Fellowship Experience
2011 (2011) Joanna Briggs Institute International Convention Hospital nurse staffing models and patient- and staff-related outcomes: an epic EPOC systematic review
2011 (2011) ICM Triennial Conference Does changing the maternity staffing skill mix affect postnatal care?
2011 (2011) Midwives: Leaders or Managers? Closing the Loop Developing a Joint Research Agenda: Building Midwifery Clinical/Academic Patnerships
2008 (2008) NET/NEP 2nd International Conference Assessing Midwifery Competence: Constructing Valid Indicators of Competence
2005 (2005) Sigma Theta Tau International, 38th Biennial Convention Nursing documentation: dominant and suppressed discourses within nursing records

Review Articles

Year Publication
2011 Butler, Michelle; Collins, Rita; Drennan, Jonathan; Halligan, Phil; O'Mathuna, Donal P.; Schultz, Timothy J.; Sheridan, Ann; Vilis, Eileen (2011) Hospital nurse staffing models and patient and staff-related outcomes. REV [DOI]

Other Publication

Year Publication
2025 Marshall, N.; Butler, M.; Lambert, V.; Timon, C.M.; Joyce, D.; Warters, A. (2025) Health literacy interventions and health literacy-related outcomes for older adults: a systematic review. [Link] [DOI]
2006 (2006) Identifying Midwifery Research Priorities for Ireland.
2006 Ms Pamela Henry (2006) Developing a data dictionary for the Irish Nursing Minimum Data Set. NNN conference presentation:
2006 (2006) Developing a Nursing Minimum Data Set for Ireland.
2005 (2005) The Nurse as the Vital Link in Patient Care: Expploring General Nurses' Views of their Contribution to Patient Care.
2005 (2005) What are the Essential Competencies Required of a Midwife at the Point of Registration?.
2005 (2005) Effective Interventions to Reduce Loneliness in Older People in Ireland: The Views of Providers and Planners.
2005 (2005) Developing a Nursing Minimum Data Set for Ireland.
2005 (2005) Identifying Nursing-Sensitive Outcome Indicators for a Nursing Minimum Data Set in Ireland.
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Employment

Employer Position From / To
University of British Columbia Director, Professor 03/01/2014 - 31/12/2016
University College Dublin Dean and Head of School 01/01/2007 - 01/12/2010
University College Dublin Senior Lecturer 01/01/2007 - 31/12/2013
Dublin City University Executive Dean 01/01/2017 - 30/11/2023

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
01/09/1996 University of Nottingham PhD
Coventry University BSc
Coventry University MSc

Research Interests

Michelle has been involved in research since 1993, in the areas of midwifery, health services management, and nursing, in Canada, the UK and Ireland, funded by the International Confederation of Midwives, the Health Research Board, the Health Services Executive, the Committee for Public Management Research, the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery, the Women's Health Council, the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, and the National Council on Aging and Older people. 

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Update of the Essential Competencies for Basic Midwifery Practice PI 01/01/2016 30/06/2017
Investigating a data driven approach to inform population based resource allocation for improved equity in primary care services in Ireland DCU Co-PI 01/10/2024 30/09/2026
DCU/HSE REACH Collaboratory - Work package 3 DCU PI 01/06/2023 31/08/2026
Establishment of a DCU/HSE CHO DNCC Research Hub DCU PI 01/01/2022 31/12/2024
DCU/HSE REACH Collaboratory Work Package 2 DCU PI 03/01/2023 31/12/2024
Probiotics in Pregnancy to Decrease the Incidence of Positive Group B Strep at Term Principal Investigator 10/04/2018 10/04/2021

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
Hayes ,Patricia Kelly PhD Supervisor

External Collaborators

Type Name Company Role
External Ceclia Jevitt University of British Columbia Academic
External Patti Janssen University of British Columbia Academic
External Timothy Schultz Flinders University Academic
External Jonathan Drennan University College Cork Academic

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2024/5 Nursing Ethics NUR1041