Evaluating Contraception and Sexual health in the Midwifery Curriculum Image from Wellcome Images under Creative Commons license Understanding the theory– practice gap

Background At present contraception and sexual health (CaSH) is taught to midwifery students using one or two stand alone lectures These are normally delivered in the first year

Research aims Seek the views of 3 cohorts of students on –How confident they feel in giving advice on contraception and sexual health? –How they would prefer to receive sexual health education? –What they feel would increase their confidence and knowledge in this area? Estimate competence by means of factual quiz presenting practice based scenarios Examine relationship between confidence and competence

How we collected the information? Focus groups x3 Questionnaire – to every final year student Short Factual Quiz –This was used to gather information on students apply their theoretical knowledge in a hypothetical practical scenario

Timeline of Research Focus Group Cohort 1 Survey distributed to Cohort 1 Focus Group Cohort 2 Focus Group Cohort 3 Survey distributed to Cohort 2 Survey distributed to Cohort 3 Nov 11 Mar 12 July 12 INSPIRE funding ends Presentation at INSPIRE conference May 12 Ethical Approval sought & Granted By FREP Survey development for use with all 3 cohorts ANALYSIS of data from 3 focus groups & 3 surveys Informs Redesign of sexual health education in midwifery curriculum into 2013 Sept 12 Ethical Approval for amended questionnaire sought & granted Research output Papers & presentations

Current position

The theory-practice gap A longstanding debate within health care professions Benner – Novice to expert Eraut – –Work based learning –Informal learning The role of the mentor/preceptor Assessment focussed learning

Findings Quantitative responses Quantitative Analysis of the relationship between expressed Confidence and (hypothetical) practical Competence Qualitative responses from Questionnaire Focus group themes

Factual Quiz Designed to elicit responses to practical scenarios 7 questions – total score of 29

Qualitative responses to Questionnaire Students’ views on what would increase their confidence Students’ views on what should be included in an undergraduate curriculum

Where do we go from here? Further explore the issue of confidence and competence in giving advice on CaSH Recommendations for undergraduate midwifery curriculum regarding CaSH Intend to write up journal papers x2 ?? PhD project

Questions & Discussion How should we define practical competence for a final year student? Students are asking for more practical education e.g. role play, mentor observation. –Can curricula incorporate this with increasing student numbers? –Should this be in addition to or instead of theoretical education?