مجله ایرانی آموزش در علوم پزشکی (May 2014)

Comparing Professional Confidence in Midwifery Students and Clinical Midwives

  • Zohreh Hoseinpour,
  • Fatemeh Heshmati Nabavi,
  • Zahra Emami moghadam,
  • Hamidreza Behnam vashani,
  • Farzaneh Hasanzadeh

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 2
pp. 137 – 147

Abstract

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Introduction: Professional confidence is a desirable characteristic of health professionals and midwives as the first persons in contact with the clients. As a result they should have enough knowledge and skills to offer clinical services. This study aimed to determine the level of professional confidence among midwifery students and clinical midwives in year 2013 in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, we assessed the professional confidence of all midwifery students and a proportionate sample of clinical midwives in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences using Professional confidence questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed using content validity index and factor analysis and its reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: 101 (63.9%) midwifery students and 57 (36.1%) clinical midwives took part in this study. The mean score of professional confidence was 135.77±25.27 for second-year students, 149±26.36 for third-year students, 141.03±27.53 for fourth-year students and 158/94±27/53 for clinical midwives out of a total of 210 points. The result of one-way Anova test showed a significant difference between these four groups (P=0.001). Conclusion: Educational programs were successful in creating professional confidence in second and third-year students at a desirable level but the professional confidence in fourth-year students didn’t have an appropriate level. Professional confidence score among clinical midwives was higher compared to students as expected. Along with increase in students’ capabilities in senior years, a supportive clinical environment should be created which nurtures students’ professional confidence development. Assessing and exploring, factors reducing professional confidence is suggested for further research.

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