Sharing midwifery philosophy through a positive learning environment prepares students for a future providing midwifery continuity of care: A mixed method study
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BACKGROUND: Global and national frameworks for midwifery education recognise and prioritise the provision of midwifery continuity of care. Previous studies report that learning is enhanced when students have professional experience placements within these models, however there remains wide variation in midwifery students' access to placements within these models in Australia. AIM: To evaluate Bachelor of Midwifery students' experiences in midwifery continuity of care models within two local health districts in New South Wales, Australia. METHOD: A mixed methods design was used: qualitative data collected through interviews, and quantitative data collected via an online survey using the Midwifery Student Evaluation of Practice (MidSTEP) tool. Thematic analysis of qualitative data and descriptive analysis of quantitative data was undertaken. RESULTS: Sixteen students responded, four students were interviewed, and 12 students completed the survey. The MidSTEP mean scores for all sub-scales rated above 3.0/4.0. Participants rated 'work across the full scope of midwifery practice' and five out of eight subscales of Philosophy of Midwifery Practice at 100 %. 'Experiences prepare me to be a change agent for maternity service reform' rated the lowest (67 %). Three qualitative themes emerged: care versus carer model; learning experience; and future career as a caseload midwife. CONCLUSION: A mixed method approach using a validated tool to measure student experiences, contributes to the evidence that students value professional experience placements within midwifery continuity of care models. Currently this is not an option for all midwifery students and as midwifery continuity of care models expand, these findings will inform further implementation of student professional experience placement within these models.
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Continuity of care experiences are an integral component of preregistration midwifery programs in Uganda and other parts of the world like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
“Continuity of care experiences are an integral component of preregistration midwifery programs in Uganda and other parts of the world like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand [6–8].”
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“Continuity of care experiences are an integral component of preregistration midwifery programs in Uganda and other parts of the world like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand [6–8].”
Waller, D., Thomas, P., Serex, M., & Abderhalden‐Zellweger, A. (2026) · JBI Evidence Synthesis · doi:10.11124/jbies-25-00060
- Authors
- Hainsworth, N., Mollart, L., Prussing, E., Clack, D., & Cummins, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Hainsworth, Nicole
- Venue
- Women and Birth
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-11
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 101808
- ISSN
- 1871-5192 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4402445523
- Cited by
- 3
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3
- FWCI
- 1.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Women and Birth (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- OPUS - Open Publications of UTS Scholars (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Research and Theory › Nursing education and management
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
- Keywords
- continuity of midwifery care, midwifery education, professional experience placements, midwifery students, caseload midwifery, student learning experience, New South Wales
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Australia, Clinical Competence, Continuity of Patient Care, Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate, Female, Humans, Interviews as Topic, Learning, Midwifery, New South Wales, Pregnancy, Surveys and Questionnaires, Students, Nursing, Qualitative Research
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