Interprofessional continuing education and reskilling in midwifery

Abstract

In 2015, accreditation system for Japanese midwives was started by Japan Institute of Midwifery Evaluation. In the present practice, midwives are not able to acquire advanced competencies. Because of Japan’s declining birth rate and uneven distribution of work places for midwives, opportunities for midwives to experience midwifery practice are decreasing and proficiency cannot be enhanced easily. The Japanese Nursing Association realized the need for strategic enhancement of midwifery practice, and consequently developed the Clinical Ladder of Competencies for Midwifery Practice (CLoCMiP) to be made available wherever it was needed. Five midwifery-related associations (Japanese Nursing Association, Japanese Midwives Association, Japan Academy of Midwifery, Japan Society Midwifery Education, and Japan Institute of Midwifery Evaluation) each shared a sense of crisis that the current situation hindered the ability of midwives to improve their ability and performance, so they decided to establish a certification system based on CLoCMiP. CLoCMiP evaluates midwifery core competencies and comprises 5 levels from Novice to Level IV to provide midwifery care autonomously. To be linked to this, designation rules of midwifery education was changed by Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. It increases from 28 credits to 31 credits, and applied from 2022. It should be strengthened in perinatal mental health, clinical judgment skills, and comprehensive support for the child-rearing in the community. Then, we reviewed our midwifery program and created core curriculum in preferred midwifery education by Japan Society Midwifery Education. It is important for midwives to collaborate interprofessional and continuing Education.