The midwifery students’ knowledge and clinical decision making skills about preconception care

Abstract

Background: Midwives are responsible for providing preconception care for couples, they should have adequate knowledge
and decision making skill in this regards. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and decision making skill
regarding preconception care in midwifery students and also the relationship between the mentioned items.
Methods: In a cross sectional study, all undergraduate midwifery students in their last year of study at ";Tehran";, ";Iran"; and
";Shahid Beheshti"; medical universities were included through headcount sampling (N = 40). A questionnaire with 26 multiple
choice questions used to evaluate the level of knowledge; a computerized patient management problem (CPMP) questionnaire
with 9 questions, required short answers, was also used in form of a computer software to assess clinical decision
making. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson and Spearman's correlation coefficients, and χ
2
tests via SPSS software Regression used to determine the share of each field of knowledge and decision making in the aggregate
level.
Results: In a scale of 100, the mean score for knowledge of preconception care was 54.23 (± 9.04) and for clinical decision
making 35.62 (± 7.01). All units remained at average in both cases. A significant relationship was seen between the level
of knowledge and the decision making skill (p = 0.017, r = 0.36).
Conclusion: The knowledge and decision making skills of midwives were in an average level. Much attention should be
paid to their education and new methods such PMP should be used in training and evaluating them.
Key words: Preconception care, knowledge, clinical decision making, midwifery student, patient management problems