Midwifery students' experiences of problem solving based interprofessional learning: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional learning is identified as one of the most innovative ways to encourage students of different disciplines to communicate with each other in interprofessional teams. A review of existing studies identified that inter-professional learning with nursing and midwifery students learning together had not previously been reported. AIM: This qualitative study sought to explore perceptions and experiences of midwifery students from interprofessional learning with nursing students. METHODS: This study was an exploratory qualitative study employing focus groups. Participants were 30 female students in the fourth year Bachelor of Midwifery at one university in Iran who undertook the surgical training course in midwifery in their seventh semester by inter-professional learning based on problem solving. Data were analysed according to the six steps of the concurrent thematic analysis method. FINDINGS: One main theme of challenging approach in learning emerged and two sub-themes 1) being challenged in a simulated clinical situation and 2) demonstrating professional knowledge. CONCLUSION: Interprofessional learning by challenging students of various professions during shared interprofessional learning can be followed by positive outcomes such as improved critical thinking, interprofessional communication, teaching-learning motivation and independent learning. Copyright © 2018 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved