Medical and midwifery students: how do they view their respective roles on the labour ward?

It has been suggested that much of the medical and midwifery student curricula on normal pregnancy and birth could be taught as a co-operative effort between obstetric and midwifery staff. One important element of a successful combined teaching strategy would involve a determination of the extent to which the students themselves identify common learning objectives. The aim of the present study was to survey medical and midwifery students about how they perceived their respective learning roles on the delivery suite. A descriptive cross-sectional survey study was undertaken. The study venue was an Australian teaching and tertiary referral hospital in obstetrics and gynaecology Survey participants were medical students who had just completed a 10 week clinical attachment in obstetrics and gynaecology during the 5th year of a six year undergraduate medical curriculum and midwifery students undertaking a one year full-time (or two year part-time) postgraduate diploma in midwifery. Of 130 and 52 questionnaires distributed to medical and midwifery students, response rates of 72% and 52% were achieved respectively The key finding was that students reported a lesser role for their professional colleagues than they identified for themselves. Some medical students lacked an understanding of the role of midwives as 8%, 10%, and 23% did not feel that student midwives should observe or perform a normal birth or neonatal assessment respectively. Of equal concern, 7%, 22%, 26% and 85% of student midwives did not identify a role for medical students to observe or perform a normal birth, neonatal assessment or provide advice on breastfeeding respectively. Medical and midwifery students are placed in a competitive framework and some students may not understand the complementary role of their future colleagues. Interdisciplinary teaching may facilitate co-operation between the professions and improve working relationships.