An innovative approach to Inter Professional Education: Student midwives facilitating interactive simulation workshops on normal labour and birth for 4th year medical students

Aim: Promote better understanding of the respective professional roles within maternity care. Objectives: Introduce 4th year medical students to the concepts of normal labour and birth and their interactive role within the... [ view full abstract ]

Aim:
Promote better understanding of the respective professional roles within maternity care.
Objectives:
Introduce 4th year medical students to the concepts of normal labour and birth and their interactive role within the D/S environment
Promote understanding of care provision in normal labour and birth
Reduce anxiety and enhance confidence of both student groups

Description of the innovation
Final year midwifery students were provided with an opportunity to introduce concepts of normal birth via an interactive workshop to 4th year medical students. The midwifery students had an outline agenda of key issues such as the provision of women centred care and relationship building in labour however they were encouraged to use their own creativity in how this was translated to the medical students. The focus of the workshops was very much participative and interactive and culminated with a ‘hands on’ simulation of birth.

Impact of the innovation.
Written evaluations of the workshop were extremely positive and revealed that following the workshop both sets of students felt more confident within their respective roles and had a better understanding of each other’s role within normal labour and birth. The medical students reported feeling less anxious about their forthcoming labour ward placement and felt more confident in their understanding of the labour and birth process and therefore better able to care for a woman in normal labour. The midwifery students enjoyed the team working elements that came from preparation for the workshop and felt better prepared for autonomous midwifery practice.

Conclusion and Implications.
The interactive workshop provides midwifery students with the opportunity to develop cooperative team working and teaching skills. Whilst the medical students recognise how to care for healthy low risk women in labour and have an opportunity to recognise their role within this setting. It also provides an insight into the role of the midwife as the expert in normal birth. The positive evaluations emphasise the potential for further growth and development in this field. The benefits of this innovative education strategy have been recognised and subsequently a commitment has been made to embed it within the respective curricula.