TY - JOUR
T1 - Essential components of midwifery ethics education
T2 - results of a Delphi study
AU - Megregian, Michele
AU - Low, Lisa Kane
AU - Emeis, Cathy
AU - de Vries, Raymond
AU - Nieuwenhuijze, Marianne
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - Objective: Ethical dilemmas are an inevitable part of a midwife's experience in clinical care. Midwifery educational programs have an obligation to provide students the opportunities to acquire the skills and knowledge to recognize and negotiate ethical dilemmas. Implementation of strategies for imparting ethical competencies and clinical ethics decision-making skills in formal midwifery curricula have been challenging and inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to gather information and opinions from midwifery educators and clinical preceptors about the essential components of ethics education for midwifery students in the United States (U.S.), aiming for consensus on key content, competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies. Design: This is an online Delphi study conducted in three rounds. Round 1 consisted of open-ended questions to explore and identify key content, competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies for midwifery ethics education. In Rounds 2 and 3, experts rated statements on a 1 to 7 Likert scale, with positive consensus defined as 70% or more of the experts scoring ≥6. Participants: The panel included midwifery educators (midwifery program directors, faculty, and clinical preceptors) from the United States. Findings: Of the 12 statements on key content of ethics education, midwives emphasized that content promoting an understanding of shared decision-making is essential for inclusion. Of the statements regarding competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies, 20 of 21 statements met consensus, including those related to shared decision-making and ethical decision-making, as well as attributes such as compassion and courage. Midwives did not agree that an essential teaching strategy includes a validated assessment tool for evaluating students on any component of ethics learning (knowledge, skills, behaviour). Key Conclusions: This Delphi study reveals what midwifery educators consider essential components of ethics education for midwifery students, with a particular focus on the professional attributes of shared decision-making. Implications for Practice: Initial insights about optimal ways to incorporate the essential ethics education components into midwifery program curricula are provided, and more research is needed.
AB - Objective: Ethical dilemmas are an inevitable part of a midwife's experience in clinical care. Midwifery educational programs have an obligation to provide students the opportunities to acquire the skills and knowledge to recognize and negotiate ethical dilemmas. Implementation of strategies for imparting ethical competencies and clinical ethics decision-making skills in formal midwifery curricula have been challenging and inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to gather information and opinions from midwifery educators and clinical preceptors about the essential components of ethics education for midwifery students in the United States (U.S.), aiming for consensus on key content, competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies. Design: This is an online Delphi study conducted in three rounds. Round 1 consisted of open-ended questions to explore and identify key content, competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies for midwifery ethics education. In Rounds 2 and 3, experts rated statements on a 1 to 7 Likert scale, with positive consensus defined as 70% or more of the experts scoring ≥6. Participants: The panel included midwifery educators (midwifery program directors, faculty, and clinical preceptors) from the United States. Findings: Of the 12 statements on key content of ethics education, midwives emphasized that content promoting an understanding of shared decision-making is essential for inclusion. Of the statements regarding competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies, 20 of 21 statements met consensus, including those related to shared decision-making and ethical decision-making, as well as attributes such as compassion and courage. Midwives did not agree that an essential teaching strategy includes a validated assessment tool for evaluating students on any component of ethics learning (knowledge, skills, behaviour). Key Conclusions: This Delphi study reveals what midwifery educators consider essential components of ethics education for midwifery students, with a particular focus on the professional attributes of shared decision-making. Implications for Practice: Initial insights about optimal ways to incorporate the essential ethics education components into midwifery program curricula are provided, and more research is needed.
KW - Competency Education
KW - Ethics
KW - Midwifery
KW - Midwifery Education
KW - Professional Competence
KW - Shared Decision-Making
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U2 - 10.1016/j.midw.2021.102946
DO - 10.1016/j.midw.2021.102946
M3 - Article
C2 - 33610063
AN - SCOPUS:85101395372
SN - 0266-6138
VL - 96
JO - Midwifery
JF - Midwifery
M1 - 102946
ER -