Essential components of midwifery ethics education: results of a Delphi study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE\nEthical dilemmas are an inevitable part of a midwife s experience in clinical care. Midwifery educational programs have an obligation to provide students the opportunities to acquire the skills and knowledge to recognize and negotiate ethical dilemmas. Implementation of strategies for imparting ethical competencies and clinical ethics decision-making skills in formal midwifery curricula have been challenging and inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to gather information and opinions from midwifery educators and clinical preceptors about the essential components of ethics education for midwifery students in the United States (U.S.), aiming for consensus on key content, competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies.\n\n\nDESIGN\nThis is an online Delphi study conducted in three rounds. Round 1 consisted of open-ended questions to explore and identify key content, competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies for midwifery ethics education. In Rounds 2 and 3, experts rated statements on a 1 to 7 Likert scale, with positive consensus defined as 70% or more of the experts scoring ≥6.\n\n\nPARTICIPANTS\nThe panel included midwifery educators (midwifery program directors, faculty, and clinical preceptors) from the United States.\n\n\nFINDINGS\nOf the 12 statements on key content of ethics education, midwives emphasized that content promoting an understanding of shared decision-making is essential for inclusion. Of the statements regarding competencies, learning outcomes, and teaching strategies, 20 of 21 statements met consensus, including those related to shared decision-making and ethical decision-making, as well as attributes such as compassion and courage. Midwives did not agree that an essential teaching strategy includes a validated assessment tool for evaluating students on any component of ethics learning (knowledge, skills, behaviour).\n\n\nKEY CONCLUSIONS\nThis Delphi study reveals what midwifery educators consider essential components of ethics education for midwifery students, with a particular focus on the professional attributes of shared decision-making.\n\n\nIMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE\nInitial insights about optimal ways to incorporate the essential ethics education components into midwifery program curricula are provided, and more research is needed.