A qualitative analysis of Australian midwifery students’ perspectives of Midwifery Practice Experience: Characteristics that enhance or diminish clinical education placements
L. Kearney , D. Bloxsome , S. Hunter , A. Brown , S. Cooper , F. Bogossian
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Midwifery education in Australia faces challenges in combining theoretical and practical experiences, with reports of inconsistent support and supervision during Midwifery Practice Experience (MPE), alongside significant financial and personal costs to students. National evaluation and improvement initiatives are essential to ensure that midwifery students receive effective and high-quality clinical learning opportunities.
Aim
This study aimed to answer two research questions: 1) How do midwifery students describe their Midwifery Practice Experiences? 2) What are the characteristics of Midwifery Practice Experiences that enhance or diminish midwifery student learning?
Methods
National midwifery student survey data, collected through the National Placement Evaluation Centre. Data were inclusive of the 2023 calendar year. Data entered as ‘free text’ responses were analysed thematically.
Findings
A total of 795 midwifery students completed the Placement Evaluation Tool (PET-Midwifery) during the data collection period, with 297 (37.4 %) providing a ‘free text’ response. Students were enrolled in 17 Australian Universities and represented every State and Territory except for the Australian Capital Territory. Positive experiences were linked to a sense of belonging and effective supervision, while negative experiences were tied to feeling unwelcomed and inconsistent learning opportunities. The study highlighted the personal impact of attending placements and identified the need for improved student support and preparation.
Conclusions
Based upon a national survey of midwifery student perspectives of MPE, placement satisfaction was generally high with effective supervision and a sense of belonging. However negative experiences included reports of unwelcoming environments with a need for culture change and interventional education approaches.
期刊介绍：
Women and Birth is the official journal of the Australian College of Midwives (ACM). It is a midwifery journal that publishes on all matters that affect women and birth, from pre-conceptual counselling, through pregnancy, birth, and the first six weeks postnatal. All papers accepted will draw from and contribute to the relevant contemporary research, policy and/or theoretical literature. We seek research papers, quality assurances papers (with ethical approval) discussion papers, clinical practice papers, case studies and original literature reviews.
Our women-centred focus is inclusive of the family, fetus and newborn, both well and sick, and covers both healthy and complex pregnancies and births. The journal seeks papers that take a woman-centred focus on maternity services, epidemiology, primary health care, reproductive psycho/physiology, midwifery practice, theory, research, education, management and leadership. We also seek relevant papers on maternal mental health and neonatal well-being, natural and complementary therapies, local, national and international policy, management, politics, economics and societal and cultural issues as they affect childbearing women and their families. Topics may include, where appropriate, neonatal care, child and family health, women’s health, related to pregnancy, birth and the postpartum, including lactation. Interprofessional papers relevant to midwifery are welcome. Articles are double blind peer-reviewed, primarily by experts in the field of the submitted work.
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