What is the woman's role in the clinical assessment of midwifery students? A scoping review

Abstract

Midwifery student assessment tools have been validated to assess competence in practice-based maternity settings however, the inclusion of the woman in the clinical assessment of the midwifery student is not well understood. To collate and report the evidence on the role of the woman in the clinical assessment of midwifery students. Using the five-step framework of Arksey and O'Malley (2005), with modifications from Levac et al. (2010), a scoping review was conducted across four databases: MEDLINE (via OVID); CINAHL (via OVID); EMCARE; and SCOPUS using controlled vocabulary and key words. Midwifery student clinical assessment in practice-based settings that included feedback from the student, midwife, and woman was not evident in any of the studies. The concepts of woman-centred care were well explored, particularly in terms of the continuity of care experience. Although the reciprocal benefits of the continuity of care experience for women and students were highlighted, there was no evidence of feedback from women on their involvement during midwifery student clinical assessment. When women did provide feedback, it was mostly in retrospect, using criteria-led evaluations (online survey, questionnaire), and not during midwifery student clinical assessment. A clearer understanding of how woman-centred care is realised in midwifery student clinical assessment regardless of the model of care provision needs to be explored. Understanding how the woman is included, her role and how she can provide feedback on her experience will inform how woman-centred care is reflected in all practice settings. The findings from this scoping review have identified gaps within the existing literature, foremost is the lack of evidence of inclusion of the woman in the clinical assessment of midwifery students. Re-orientating midwifery student clinical assessment that includes collaboration with and evidence of feedback from the woman would provide the woman a 'voice' to articulate and validate her experience - representing her journey towards woman-centred care.