Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Journal of Caring Sciences, cilt.18, sa.1, ss.440-450, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
Abstract Background: Mentoring is accepted as an indispensable clinical education strategy for nursing and midwifery students in developed countries. In Turkey, although midwives see mentoring as part of their role, a mentoring protocol for midwifery education has not been established. Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of mentoring practice on the clinical competence and self-confidence levels of final-year midwifery students regarding midwifery skills during the labor ward clinical practice. Methodology: This study had a two-group pre-post-test non-randomized quasi-experimental research design. The study was conducted in the midwifery department of a state university and the maternity wards of two state hospitals in Turkey. A total of 38 final year midwifery students and seven mentor midwives participated in the study. The control group (n=19) conducted the mentoring practice in the 1st-7th academic weeks with a named mentor. The experimental group (n=19) conducted the mentoring practice in the 8th-14th academic weeks with a named mentor who had mentoring training. Mini Clinical Exercise (MiniCex) and Professional Skills Assessment Tool (PSAT) were administered to the groups as pre-tests, and the Mentorship Effectiveness Scale (MES) was administered to the groups as post-tests. Results: The mean MiniCex and the PSAT scores of the midwifery students in both groups after clinical practice were significantly higher than that before clinical practice (p<0.05). In the experimental group, a positive correlation between the mean MiniCex (r=0.680; p=0.001), the mean PSAT (r = 0.473; p=0.041 <0.05), and the mean MES scores was found. Conclusion: This study’s results indicate that the mentoring program components (*control group, assigned a mentor and **experimental group, assigned a mentor who had received mentoring training) effectively increase midwifery students’ clinical competence and self-confidence regarding midwifery skills. The mentor-student assignment is as effective as a formal preparation of the mentor.
Keywords: Mentoring, midwife, midwifery education, clinical placement, labor ward, Turkey