The role of ePortfolios in pre-registration midwifery programs: A scoping review

Adoption of ePortfolios in health professional education has been accompanied by emerging literature that details their benefits and challenges. Discipline-specific investigation of their use in midwifery programs warrants further examination. ePortfolios are used across midwifery programs to evidence clinical requirements for initial registration, yet their specific role in student learning, and how they are implemented and evaluated across different contexts, has not been mapped.

To examine the role that ePortfolios play in student learning in midwifery programs leading to initial registration, and to map how they are implemented, used and evaluated.

A scoping review methodology was employed following the framework of Munn et al. (2018). Four electronic databases were systematically searched alongside citation searching. Google scholar was also searched for gray literature. Studies reporting on ePortfolio use in midwifery programs leading to initial registration were included. Data were charted on study characteristics, participants and settings, ePortfolio platforms, and reported benefits, challenges and recommendations. Study characteristics were summarised descriptively, and extracted textual data were analysed using inductive basic qualitative content analysis and mapped to the review objectives.

Twelve sources were included and five concepts were identified: (1) documenting competency and meeting accreditation requirements; (2) supporting reflective practice and deep learning; (3) ePortfolio as capstone assessment; (4) professional identity and employability; and (5) barriers and enablers to implementation.

Consistent benefits were found for evidencing clinical competency, reflective practice, professional identity development, and capstone assessment across midwifery programs, predominantly in Australia and the United Kingdom. Future research should employ robust study designs and explore the post-registration utility of ePortfolios as tools for lifelong professional development, including in diverse international settings where midwifery education and regulation may differ.