Student midwives and paramedic students' experiences of shared learning in pre-hospital childbirth

An exploration of maternity and newborn exposure, training and education among staff working within the North West Ambulance Service

Aim

Providing emergency and urgent care to pregnant patients and newborns in the pre-hospital setting often presents some of the most challenging and complex incidents attended to by ambulance staff. A service evaluation survey was undertaken to explore current levels of maternity and newborn education, preferred methods of training delivery, exposure and perceived support surrounding maternity and newborn care provision among pre-hospital clinicians working within the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust.

Methods

An online, anonymised survey compromising of 22 questions using multiple choice options and free-text questions was circulated among NWAS staff between 27 May 2021 and 21 June 2021. Questions explored the levels of training, education, exposure and confidence relating to maternal and newborn care in the pre-hospital setting. Insights into preferred approaches to engaging with continuing professional development (CPD) activities were also captured. Data were analysed using built-in Microsoft Forms analytics for quantitative response, with a basic thematic analysis undertaken to synthesise qualitative responses.

Results

The survey received 509 responses, with data providing valuable insight relating to gaps in training provision, preferred approaches to CPD and barriers to engagement. Key themes focused on 'pre-registration standards and variations', 'barriers and facilitators to continuing professional development' and 'exposure and skill decline: confidence and knowledge'.

Conclusion

Areas for service improvement are highlighted, providing ambulance trusts and integrated care systems with key recommendations. These include maternity and newborn standards for education among paramedic science degree programmes; recognition of pre-hospital emergency maternity and newborn care among maternity providers; the need for exposure and regular multidisciplinary team (MDT) skills training for staff; and a collaborative system-led approach to scaling up and delivering MDT training that acknowledges pre-hospital clinicians as key care providers.

Emergency scenarios in maternity: An exploratory study of a midwifery and medical student simulation-based learning collaboration

BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM

In Australia, interprofessional education has been embedded into pre-registration course accreditation standards. Little is known about Australian midwifery and medical students experiences of interprofessional learning when the focus is on emergency scenarios during birth.

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate student experience of Interprofessional Simulation-Based Learning workshops focused on emergency scenarios with midwifery and medical students.

METHODS

This was a descriptive, exploratory study of an educational activity designed to enhance inter-professional and collaborative learning between Bachelor of Midwifery students and Bachelor of Medicine students at a Simulation Centre in Sydney, Australia. A pre and post survey design enabled data collection before and after the 6-h simulation-based workshop.

FINDINGS

A total of 45 students attended two interprofessional simulation learning days, 14 were midwifery students and 31 medical students. Students disclosed a level of apprehension in the pre workshop survey and ambivalence towards the values of collaborative simulation-based learning. Following the workshop students reported that the workshop enhanced their ability to work collaboratively in practice. Both student cohorts commented on a perceived power imbalance and a sense of each profession having to 'prove' their knowledge levels. Students stated that learning to work together in a safe environment allowed them to develop an appreciation for each other's scope of practice and responsibilities in an emergency situation.

CONCLUSION

This form of collaborative learning has the potential to improve new graduate experience in the workplace, especially during emergency situations, and ultimately improve care for women and babies.

Emergency medical technicians' experiences with unplanned births outside institutions: A qualitative interview study

AIM

To explore emergency medical technicians' experiences with unplanned births outside institutions.

DESIGN

A qualitative interview study.

METHODS

Individual semi-structured interviews with 12 emergency medical technicians in Norway. Systematic text condensation was used to analyse the data material.

RESULTS

Analysis showed that there is a mismatch between society's expectations about emergency medical technicians and the reality they encounter in out-of-hospital maternity care, that emergency medical technicians experience a general lack of training in caring for labouring women and that poor communication with other health professions challenges patient safety. The participants expressed how they do their best in caring for both mother and child, in spite of a lack of education, training and competence in assisting labouring women.