Combined Teaching Method in Teaching Basic Clinical Skills to Midwifery Students: A Quasi-experimental Study

Background: The utilization of effective educational methods is crucial for enhancing the clinical skills of health sciences students. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of a blended teaching approach involving videos and demonstrations in clinical skills training on midwifery students’ performance and satisfaction. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was carried out with 41 midwifery students from Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran, using a census sampling method within 2018 to 2019. The experimental group received training through a combination of video presentations and demonstrations; nevertheless, the control group received training solely through demonstrations. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, a satisfaction scale, and the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Data analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test with SPSS software (version 16). Results: The experimental group exhibited significantly higher mean scores in vital signs assessment, intravenous therapy, injection techniques, urinary catheterization, application and removal of sterile gloves, and prepping and draping for normal delivery (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the mean scores for hand washing (P = 0.380) and oxygen therapy (P = 0.604) between the two groups. The combined group achieved notably better scores in the OSCE, with scores of 18.25 (1.58) compared to 16.60 (1.60) in the control group (P = 0.002). Additionally, the combined group expressed higher satisfaction with the training method, scoring 86.10 (9.50) compared to 75.52 (16.07) in the control group (P = 0.027). Moreover, the combined group reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction regarding the facilitation of educational content transfer and overall satisfaction with the training course (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Employing instructional videos and demonstrations as a combined teaching method for basic clinical skills training results in improved student performance and satisfaction.