Comparison of perceived requirements for maternal delivery between medical versus nursing students

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of intervention and levels of care required for maternal delivery between medical and nursing students. The differences in perceived practices were then considered in relation to health care approaches explored in either the medical or nursing professions. Methods The number of individuals surveyed in this study included 98 (6th year) medical students and 78 (4th year) nursing students in the Oita University’s Faculty of Medicine. Out of the total 98 medical students recruited to participate in the study, 20 of them did not agree the survey. On the other hand, among the total 78 nursing students recruited, like their peers in medicine, 10 did not agree, whereby, only 68 nursing students were participated. As a result, the final rate of valid responses is 82.9% (78+68/98+78=146/176) as shown in (Table 1). The survey questionnaires were completed anonymously during the three months from August to October in 2014. The topics surveyed included the necessity or not of procedures used in delivery and types of care extended on delivery for mothers or their partners, or awareness for natural childbirth. The ethics committee of the university approved the study. Results In the survey of medical care and treatment for delivery, the number of medical students who desired lithotomy position and the use of oxytocin under the direction of obstetricians were significantly larger than that of nursing students (Table 2. Question No.9, No. 13, P=0.0001). As for the importance of the quality of the delivery experience in relation to the decision of birth place (P=0.0001, Table 2, Question No 2, Table 7, Question No. 2), and comfortable labor position using a location other than the childbirth table (P=0.0001, Table 2, Question No. 4), the number of nursing students was significantly higher than that of medical students. In accordance with the effective and recommended guidelines in “Care in normal birth: A practical guide (WHO1996)”, the authors highlighted survey questions that included consideration of “Planning of childbirth together with a partner”. This survey approach also included “Information for choice of birth place”, Respect for decisions as to who should be accompanying on childbirth and “Comfortable labor position or favorite birth or delivery places other than the childbirth delivery table.” (1) The ratio of medical students significantly supports that birth plan should be decided with partner was higher when compared with nursing students (Table 7. P=0.017). (2) As for information for choice of birthplace, more nursing students significantly support that birth place should be consented as compared with medical students (Table 7. P=0.0001). (3) More nursing students significantly support the person accompanying on delivery (Table 7. P=0.048). (4) Both nursing students and medical students agree with “Comfortable labor position or favorite delivery or birth places other than the childbirth delivery table” (Table 7. P=0.006) Table 8 has shown no recommendation by WHO such as enema, shaving, preventive vascular access, conventional lithotomy position. No such difference could be seen between both the medical students and nursing students as in Table 4. Consequently, the medical students indicated that higher preference for more medical treatment including promotion of delivery due to oxytocin treatment and lithotomy position was necessary compared to the nursing students’ expression of such desirability of the approach. Conclusion The study showed a significant difference in the perceived requirements for child birth or delivery between medical students and nursing students. The main differences are suspected to be due to differences in the educational programs and backgrounds which both the medical students or nursing students received while studying and training for their respective professions.