Evaluation of midwifery students' clinical decision making

Abstract

Introduction: Quality evaluation and clinical decision making education are two important elements in health personnel's decision-making status. Patient management problem (PMP) is one of the clinical decision making methods in which some clinical conditions are taken from a disease and are put forward in the form of a multi-stage question. This study tried to use computerized PMP to evaluate midwifery students' clinical decision making.

Methods: In a cross-sectional census study, 40 senior bachelor midwifery students from Tehran, Iran and Shahid Behshti Medical Universities were studied. Computerized PMP questionnaire on 9 simulated cases referred for preconception care designed in a software program was given to the subjects to fill out. The data were analyzed by descriptive and multiple regression analyses in SPSS software.

Results: The mean score taken by the studied students was 35.62±7 .01 out of 100. Most subjects had average clinical decision-making. The acquired mean score of subjects in risk assessment, in education and counseling and in intervention were 40.17±9.14, 31.87±10.23 and 31.42±13.77, respectively. Most subjects had average clinical decision making in these three fields.

Conclusion: Since clinical decision making, a major element in enhancement of health team services as well as midwifery students' services, can be evaluated and taught by PMP and since evaluation of most subjects in preconception care did not show appropriate levels of clinical decision making, more precise education in this field seems essential.