Exploring rural maternity clinicians’ views of an interprofessional education program

Abstract

Purpose

Maternity and Newborn Emergencies (MANE), a two-day face-to-face interprofessional education program, aimed to improve the safety culture of maternity services in rural and regional health services across Victoria, Australia. An evaluation of the program was conducted between 2017 and 2020. The aim of this study was to explore clinicians’ views of the impact of MANE on safety culture and clinical governance.

Methodology

This study used a qualitative design including, focus groups and an online survey at five health services – one in each Victorian rural health region. Data were thematically analysed using an inductive approach.

Findings

Data were collected between 2018 and 2020, via four focus groups and one online survey (due to COVID-19 restrictions), with a total of 46 participants. Three themes were identified: MANE was a high quality, professional education program; it led to changes in clinicians’ confidence, skills, and behaviour; and had a positive impact on clinical governance and safety culture.

Research implications

Clinicians reported that MANE improved safety culture and clinicians’ understanding of clinical governance, with the delivery by external experts considered key to program success. These findings support previously reported outcomes of the MANE evaluation in which participants reported an improvement in knowledge and confidence.

Practical implications

Education programs like MANE appear to improve clinical governance and safety culture in health services.

Value

This study adds to the evidence of strategies that health services can consider to strengthen their clinical governance structures and safety culture.

Limitations

Data from one health service were obtained by written response to the questions which did not allow for participants to respond to their colleagues’ views. Most focus group attendees were midwives or nurses, with only one doctor attending one focus group. This study was conducted only one month after MANE, therefore it is unknown whether these views were sustained.

Keywords: clinical governance, interprofessional education, emergencies, safety culture, maternity emergencies, neonatal emergencies