Simulation to Improve Medical Student Understanding of Doulas' Role

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Obstetrics
• Patient Care

Background:

• Birth doula services are increasingly covered by insurance and patient demand in the US.
• Effective collaboration between medical professionals and doulas is crucial for optimal labor and delivery (L&D) care.
• Medical students require training to understand the doula role and interprofessional collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a labor and delivery (L&D) simulation for medical students to practice working with birth doulas.
• To assess the impact of the simulation on medical students' comfort and understanding of the doula role.
• To improve interprofessional collaboration in obstetric care.

Main Methods:

• A simulation involving preclinical medical students, an obstetrician, anesthesiologist, nurse, and doula during a simulated birth.
• Pre- and post-simulation surveys using a 7-point scale to evaluate student comfort and understanding.
• Descriptive evaluation with linear regressions for statistical analysis of survey data.

Main Results:

• 212 of 255 participating students completed surveys over two years.
• Simulation participation significantly increased student comfort collaborating with doulas (3.1 points) and understanding of the doula role (3.2 points).
• Students with prior L&D experience demonstrated higher presimulation understanding of the doula role.

Conclusions:

• Obstetric simulations incorporating birth doulas effectively enhance medical students' awareness and understanding of the doula role.
• This simulation provides a valuable opportunity to improve L&D collaboration and patient care.
• Integrating doula participation in simulations is a key strategy for medical education in obstetrics.