Involvement that is supportive for pregnant women in cases of continuous care by midwifery students

Abstract

Purpose
To understand what kind of student involvement (care, advice, talking, orientation, address) serves to support women in continuous care cases, and to reconfirm the significance of continuing case practical training in midwifery education.
Subjects and methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 women who were under the continuous care of students from one university.
Results
A total of 87 different methods of student involvement that the subjects considered to be supportive were identified, and were classified into 4 categories of (1) sympathetic acceptance, (2) always being there, (3) diligent care, and (4) touching at times of anxiety or sadness. There was further classification into 2 subcategories of "sympathetic acceptance" and "thinking together about things" for (1) sympathetic acceptance; 3 subcategories of "being together," "attentiveness," and "talk and encouragement" for (2) always being there; 3 subcategories of "sincere and gentle care," "makes efforts for me," and "responds quickly" for (3) diligent care; and 2 subcategories of "holding my hand" and "patting or squeezing my shoulder" for (4) touching at times of anxiety or sadness.
Conclusion
Through practical training involving the continuous care of individual women, students conduct the kind of close individual care that is necessary as a midwife, and fulfill their role as a companion to pregnant women. In addition, the students make efforts to respond to the needs of the pregnant women in their care, and they learned the orientation and address. Therefore, practical training in which students provide continuous care for individual pregnant women during their midwifery education is thought to be meaningful.