Medical students' experiences working with midwives on NHS labour wards: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Multidisciplinary team collaboration has been identified as a key factor in optimising intrapartum care. The way future doctors feel about their undergraduate placements with midwives is worth considering, given that this might influence their behaviour in the long term. This study aimed to investigate the experience of medical students working with midwives on NHS labour wards. Methods Qualitative thematic analysis was done on transcripts of in-depth interviews with 10 medical students from across England. These students had clinical experiences with midwives or were seeking to work with midwives, and had experiences of training during or after 2010. Results Midwives were described as ‘gatekeepers’, with the power either to open or close the labour room door to medical students. Participants described mixed feelings about midwives; some reportedly provided pivotal learning experiences, particularly regarding physiological labour and birth. Others were perceived as unsupportive. The dynamic with midwives was often linked to wider multidisciplinary team culture. Conclusions Despite national calls to improve multidisciplinary team relations and undergraduate experiences, this sample of medical students shows that some still perceive tension with midwives. This may affect future obstetricians' exposure to physiological birth at an impressionable time and also influence their multidisciplinary team behaviour. Research into midwives' perspective is needed, given that collaboration is a key factor in providing safer, more personalised care.