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Learning Objective 1: #1. The learner will be able to identify the range of learning needs of midwives in Japan according to their position.
Learning Objective 2: #2. The learner will be able to discuss about continuing education for midwives exposed through evidence-based professional development.
Methods: Participants completed the Learning Needs Assessment for Midwives Tool(LENAT) and the Midwives’ Attributes Questionnaire(MAQ). The LENAT was used to measure the learning needs of midwives identified through a qualitative study (Nakayama&Funashima, 2009). It had 30 items on a 6-point Likert-type scale, in which participants rated the degree of necessity for each discrete item. The LENAT has satisfactory reliability and validity (Nakayama&Funashima, 2010). Questionnaires were distributed to 1,185 randomly sampled midwives working at hospitals, clinics and maternity homes in Japan and returned by mail.
Results: Of 672 (56.7%) responses, 581 were valid and the data were analyzed statistically. The mean total score of the LENAT is as follows; head midwives (n=53) are 153.0(SD=15.4), assistant head midwives (n=92) are 150.6(SD=15.7), staff midwives with more than 5 years of clinical experiences (n=292) are 148.8(SD=16.7), and staff midwives with less than 5 years (n=144) are 147.6(SD=15.3). No significant difference among the mean total score of the LENAT in the four groups according to position was found (p=0.15). Among the 30 items, “emergency management of maternal-newborn” and “breastfeeding support techniques” showed higher learning needs from the four groups. Other finding showed a high score for head midwives and assistant midwives to provide “educational support for junior staff and students” and “management in midwifery practice” compared to of staff midwives (p<.001). The score of assistant midwives to “methods of nursing research necessary for problem solving in the present condition” was higher than staff midwives (p<.001).
Implications: The results suggested there are the common and different learning needs for midwives according to work position. Developing effective continuing education programs for midwives based on the findings of this study will help promote quality midwifery care.