Midwifery Student Evaluation of Practice: The MidSTEP tool — Perceptions of clinical learning experiences

Abstract

BackgroundLittle emphasis has been given to the standardised measurement of midwifery students' perceptions of their clinical learning experiences. AimTo develop a tool that evaluates students' perceptions of their clinical learning experiences according to environment and impact of preceptors on professional development. MethodsA cross-sectional design was used. Tool development had three phases: item generation; expert review to assess clarity, apparent internal consistency and content validity; and psychometric testing.All Bachelor of Midwifery students at one university in Australia were invited to complete the online survey. Psychometric testing included dimensionality, internal consistency and test-retest reliability. ResultsA 74% (n = 279) response rate was achieved. Factor analysis revealed the Clinical Learning Environment Scale and Impact of the Preceptor Scale accounting for 53.6% and 71.5% of variance respectively. Both scales were reliable (Cronbach's alpha = .92 and .94) and valid. Overall, students positively rated the clinical learning environment and preceptors' abilities to foster their sense of identity as a midwife. Students were less satisfied with preceptors' understanding of the academic program. Discussion 2The new tool consists of two scales that reliably measure midwifery students' perceptions of how the clinical learning environment develops their skills and reflects a midwifery philosophy.Preceptors had a positive influence on students' skills and professional development. ConclusionsThe Midwifery Student Evaluation of Practice tool is the first valid and reliable measure of students' perceptions of their clinical learning experiences. Students' feedback provides valuable information to educators and preceptors on how best to optimise clinical learning.

Optimising the continuity experiences of student midwives: an integrative review

“…There is a need to define the factors that influence student-mentor relationships, as well as ways in which to establish and maintain trusting and supportive partnerships between students and midwives. The development of tools that allow evaluation of learning from placement experiences, such as that recently devised by Griffith et al 44 may assist in this.…”

Validation of the MidACE tool – Students’ perceptions of the Midwifery Academic role in clinical environments

“…These characteristics were comparable to three of the four key accountabilities of Griffith Midwifery Academic role identified above. While most roles described in the literature were available to students and mentors on an ad hoc basis for indirect support, Midwifery Academics at Griffith University are assigned to one or more partner healthcare organisation sites, attending on specified days of the week, and working to strengthen clinical-university partnerships as part of their employment role responsibilities 13 . What was less clear was the extent to which midwifery clinical teaching roles described in the literature strengthened the university/health service partnership 13 .…”

Implementation Of The Preceptorship Model In Midwife Care: Scooping Review

“…Based on student reports, it was found that they described expressions of gratitude for the contribution of midwife receptors that awakened students with examples of kindness, patience, generosity, and clinical expertise. (Doherty, 2015) Preceptors should focus on their professional role in providing unit-oriented, evidence-based skills-related learning opportunities for the preceptee while in the (Susanti, Wirakusumah and Garna, 2016) Engaged and committed receptors are critical to the success of midwifery students in a positive clinical practice experience (Griffiths et al, 2019). According to Halfer (2007), the role of the Preceptor must have responsibilities as Role Modeling, Skill Building, Critical Thinking, and Socialization.…”

“…Students identify a lack of opportunities in the clinical setting to raise concerns that also require further consideration. (Griffiths et al, 2019) Student midwives saw several examples of preceptors or other professionals using EBP to discuss different approaches to maternal care. (Thompson, et al, 2019).…”

“…Items in MidSTEP reflect students' sense, ability, purpose, resourcefulness, connectedness, and identity as a clustered midwives according to the environment and the impact of receptors on their professional development. (Griffiths, et al, 2019) Evaluation of clinical performance is a topic of conversation for preceptors. There are no standardized tools or tools for evaluation.…”