Abstract
Introduction: Midwifery education that strengthens self-efficacy can support student midwives in their role as advocates for a physiological approach to childbirth.Methods: To assess the effect of an educational intervention on self-efficacy, a pre- and post-intervention survey was administered to a control group and an intervention group of third year student midwives. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) was supplemented with midwifery-related self-efficacy questions related to behaviour in home and hospital settings, the communication of evidence, and ability to challenge practice.Results: Student midwives exposed to midwifery education designed to strengthen self-efficacy demonstrated significantly higher levels of general self-efficacy (p = .001) when contrasted to a control cohort. These students also showed significantly higher levels of self-efficacy in advocating for physiological childbirth (p = .029). There was a non-significant increase in self-efficacy in the hospital setting in the intervention group, a finding that suggests that education may ameliorate the effect of hospital settings on midwifery practice.Discussion: In spite of the small size of the study population, education that focuses on strengthening student midwife self-efficacy shows promise.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 104628 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Nurse Education Today |
Volume | 96 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2021 |
Keywords
- beliefs
- birth
- effect measurement
- evidence-based education
- midwifery education
- physiological childbirth
- practice gap
- scale
- Evidence-based education
- Midwifery education
- Effect measurement
- BELIEFS
- BIRTH
- SCALE
- PRACTICE GAP
- Physiological childbirth