Enhancing inter-professional education through low-fidelity simulation

Background
An interprofessional education initiative was developed and piloted in 2014 at Queen's University Belfast, within the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Medicine.

Aims
The aim of the collaboration was to introduce concepts of normal labour and birth to fourth-year medical students, led by final-year midwifery students.

Methods
A variety of birthing resources were available to the midwifery students to promote interactivity with the medical students, including birthing balls and birth manikins. Artistic licence in relation to planning the activities was encouraged. Significant emphasis was placed on the importance of relationship-building with women in labour, and the concept of being ‘with woman’ was core to all elements of teaching. Midwifery students undertook acting roles such as the labouring woman, partner or midwife role and acted out mini scenarios such as contacting for advice about early labour, positions for labour or positions for birth. Medical students were encouraged to participate in the role play, and the interactive workshop culminated with a hands-on simulation of childbirth.

Findings
Evaluation of the workshops has been extremely positive. The midwifery students reported a perceived benefit of teamwork in preparing for the workshop and also a perceived increased level of confidence.

Conclusion
Both schools have recognised the benefits of this form of inter-professional education and have subsequently made a commitment to embed it within their respective curricula.