Education for clinical decision making in midwifery practice

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Midwifery Practice
• Clinical Reasoning

Background:

• Developing effective clinical decision-making skills is crucial for midwifery students.
• Traditional education may not adequately prepare students for complex clinical scenarios.
• Bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and describe an approach for enhancing clinical decision-making skills in midwifery students.
• To outline methods that foster the development of clinical reasoning and skilled knowledge acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing clinical simulations based on real cases.
• Employing the 'thinking aloud' technique during simulations.
• Incorporating reflective practices and analysis of verbal protocols.
• Presenting and applying decision rules from experienced midwives.

Main Results:

• Simulations allow students to experience the decision-making process in a safe environment.
• Verbal protocols and reflection enable retrospective analysis of decision-making strategies.
• Exposure to experienced midwives' decision rules can improve student skill development.

Conclusions:

• Clinical decision-making skill acquisition requires deliberate practice before full clinical engagement.
• Understanding the sequence and rules of clinical information processing is vital for judgment.
• Integrating simulations, reflection, and expert decision rules enhances midwifery student preparedness.