Simulation based learning in Australian midwifery curricula: results of a national electronic survey

The primary aim of this paper is to describe the extent, nature and types of simulation used as a learning method in contemporary Australian midwifery curricula.

An electronic survey was developed using Graduate e-Cohort Pro and administered to key midwifery academics who had responsibility for 38 curricula leading to initial midwifery registration in Australia.

Engagement of midwifery academics in the survey was high with a response rate of 82%. There is a range of midwifery programs by type and level of award across Australia that vary in duration, enrolments, and by component theoretical and clinical hours. The proportion of simulation hours in curricula varied across programs accounting for up to 17% of clinical program hours. However simulation was used extensively to teach all identified generic technical skills (n=16) midwifery technical skills (n=51) and generic non-technical skills (n=6). Most commonly used simulation types were scenarios, peer-to-peer learning, partial task trainers and standardised patients. Simulation types were suited to the learning tasks.

Simulation is used extensively in midwifery education in Australia. Further research is required to understand the curriculum development imperatives of simulation and there is a need to adequately resource and support staff in the use of simulation to provide high quality simulation learning experiences for students.