Abstract
Background
Maternity policy and guidelines increasingly recommend or stipulate the increased
provision of midwifery continuity of carer as a priority model of care. The scale
up and sustainability of this model will require that student midwives are competent
to provide continuity of carer at the point of qualification. Guidance relating to
how to optimally prepare student midwives to work within continuity models is lacking.
Aim
To explore perspectives and experiences of working within and learning from student
placement within continuity models of care.
Methods
An online mixed methods survey aimed at midwifery students and qualified midwives
with experience of working within or providing education relating to continuity models.
Quantitative results were analysed through descriptive statistics while free text
responses were brought together in themes.
Findings
Benefits and challenges to placement within continuity models were identified. These
provide recommendations that will enhance learning from and skill development within
continuity models of care.
Conclusion
There is a need for continuity of mentorship and strong relationships between education
and practice, and the provision of flexible curriculum content around this to enable
students to prioritise appointments with women in their care. System level evaluation
and support is needed to guide the optimal provision of continuity models, so that
they are effective in improving outcomes and experiences. Foregrounding woman centred
care as foundational to education and facilitating the critical deconstruction of
dominant discourses that conflict with, and may prevent this form of practice, will
promote the provision of care that is integral to these models.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 05, 2022
Accepted:
September 28,
2022
Received in revised form:
September 26,
2022
Received:
August 18,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
Crown Copyright © 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. All rights reserved.
