Description

Using video in the development and field-testing of a learning package for maternity staff: Supporting women for normal childbirth

NICKY LEAP

Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Kings College, London, UK and Professor of Midwifery, University of Technology, Sydney NSW, Australia

JANE SANDALL

Professor of Midwifery and Women’s Health, Kings College, London, UK

JANE GRANT

Research Associate, Kings College, London, UK

MARIA HELENA BASTOS

Research Associate, Kings College, London, UK

PAULINE ARMSTRONG

Practice Manager, Albany Midwifery Practice and Teacher, National Childbirth Trust, London, UK

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses methodological issues relating to the use of video technology to develop and field test educational resources. Research to develop and field test a learning package for National Health Service (UK) maternity staff used video to observe and describe exemplary practice and to elicit video clips for the purpose of stimulating interactive workshop activities and interprofessional learning. The project aimed to enhance the knowledge, skills and self-efficacy of maternity staff to support women to have a normal birth. Data from filmed observations of midwifery interactions, interviews and group discussions with a range of women, their partners, midwives and doctors, contributed to understandings of positive influences on women’s experiences of childbirth. This data informed the development of learning outcomes for workshop activities and the selection of stimulus video clips. The rationale for using video in this way, the research process that was undertaken and some of the ethical and practical challenges encountered are discussed.

Keywords: Visual research methods; stimulus video clips; field testing of learning package; interactive workshop activities; interprofessional learning; scenario based learning; self-efficacy; normal birth; women’s experiences of labour and birth; midwifery; maternity staff.