Preparing Midwives for the Digital Future: A Qualitative Study on Academic Midwives' Perspectives on Artificial...

The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of midwifery academics regarding the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into midwifery education.

AI is increasingly transforming healthcare education by supporting simulation-based training, individualized learning, and clinical decision-making. However, there is limited evidence on how midwifery academics perceive its educational and clinical implications, as well as the challenges associated with its implementation.

This study was designed as a descriptive qualitative research.

The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) were followed to guide the reporting process. Participants were selected from midwifery departments of various universities in Türkiye. In-depth interviews were conducted between March 2023 and December 2024 with 14 midwifery academics. Data were analyzed thematically to identify overarching themes and subthemes.

A total of 14 participants, aged between 32 and 52 years, with master's or doctoral degrees in midwifery and academic experience ranging from 2 to 35 years, took part in the study. Thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (1) the role of technology in education, (2) educational and clinical contributions of AI, and (3) concerns and implementation challenges. Academics highlighted both the opportunities offered by AI-such as enhancing clinical preparedness and supporting decision-making-and the risks, including ethical dilemmas, data security issues, and potential threats to human-centered care.

The findings demonstrate that midwifery academics consider AI not only as a technical innovation but also as a transformative factor requiring pedagogical, ethical, and institutional preparedness. Integrating AI literacy into curricula, strengthening digital competencies of faculty, and developing clear institutional strategies are recommended to ensure the effective and responsible use of AI in midwifery education and practice.