Background: In order to internalize the midwifery philosophy of care and to learn how to advocate for physiological childbirth, student midwives in the Netherlands need learning experiences that expose them to physiological childbirth practices. Increased hospital births, wide variation in non-urgent referrals and escalating interventions impact on learning opportunities for physiological childbirth. Midwifery educators need to find ways to support student agency in becoming advocates of physiological childbirth. Objective: To gather students’ opinions of what they need to become advocates of physiological childbirth. Methods: Focus groups with student midwives (n = 37), examining attitudes regarding what educational programs must do to support physiological childbirth advocacy. Results: Students reported feelings of personal power when the midwifery philosophy of care is internalized and expressed in practice. Students also identified dilemmas associated with supporting woman-centered care and promoting physiological childbirth. Perceived hierarchy in clinical settings causes difficulties, leading students to practice in accordance with the norms of midwife preceptors. Students are supported in the internalization and realization of the midwifery philosophy of care, including physiological childbirth, if they are exposed to positive examples of care in practice and have opportunities to discuss and reflect on these in the classroom. Key conclusion: Midwifery education should focus on strategies that include navigating dilemmas in practice and helping students to express the midwifery philosophy of care in communication with other professionals and with women. Preceptors need to be supported in allowing student midwives opportunities to realize the midwifery philosophy of care, also when this differs from preceptor practice.
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Objective: In the context of a programme to improve people-centered care, launched by the Tanzanian Ministry of Health, an international project (HEALCARe) was initiated to enhance the health literacy (HL) and respectful compassionate care (RCC) competencies of Bachelor’s nursing and midwifery students. Part of the project involved exploring the perceptions of different stakeholders regarding what facilitates these students’ competencies. This paper specifically reports the perceptions of faculty lecturers and clinical instructors. Methods: We conducted nine focus groups with lecturers and instructors from three Tanzanian universities and their teaching hospitals, with a total of 65 participants. Results: Through thematic analysis, seven themes were identified: ‘knowledge of HL,’ ‘knowledge of RCC,’ ‘modules with clear key components in the curriculum,’ ‘expert teaching in the faculty classroom,’ ‘priority of supervision in the clinical setting,’ ‘learning methods, materials and resources,’ and ‘evaluation tools and monitoring the transfer from theory to practice.’ Conclusions: The findings show that students need to be supported in transferring the theory taught in class to clinical practice in patient care. The curricula of all universities and corresponding hospitals should specifically address the training of HL and RCC competencies. This will facilitate the improvement of students’ competencies, contributing to better health outcomes in Tanzania.
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Background: The dynamics of maternal and newborn care challenge midwifery education programs to keep up-to-date. To prepare for their professional role in a changing world, role models are important agents for student learning. Objective: To explore the ways in which Dutch and Icelandic midwifery students identify role models in contemporary midwifery education. Methods: We conducted a descriptive, qualitative study between August 2017 and October 2018. In the Netherlands, 27 students participated in four focus groups and a further eight in individual interviews. In Iceland, five students participated in one focus group and a further four in individual interviews. All students had clinical experience in primary care and hospital. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results: During their education, midwifery students identify people with attitudes and behaviors they appreciate. Students assimilate these attitudes and behaviors into a role model that represents their ‘ideal midwife’, who they can aspire to during their education. Positive role models portrayed woman-centered care, while students identified that negative role models displayed behaviors not fitting with good care. Students emphasized that they learnt not only by doing, they found storytelling and observing important aspects of role modelling. Students acknowledged the impact of positive midwifery role models on their trust in physiological childbirth and future style of practice. Conclusion: Role models contribute to the development of students’ skills, attitudes, behaviors, identity as midwife and trust in physiological childbirth. More explicit and critical attention to how and what students learn from role models can enrich the education program.
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Training nurses and midwives to treat their patients well There are some specific factors facilitating the modification of the nursing and midwifery bachelor curriculum The development of health literacy and respectful and compassionate care competences among bachelor nursing and midwifery students in Tanzania
