Factors defining the mentoring competencies of clinical midwives: An exploratory quantitative research study in Japan

Abstract

Background: Clinical education is an extremely important process in cultivating healthcare professionals, and the quality of educators has a major impact on the quality of future practitioners. Although practicing clinical midwives contribute to the education of pre-registered midwives and those qualified within the past year (new midwives), the factors defining the educational competencies of clinical midwives have not been clarified.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that define the mentoring competencies of clinical midwives involved in educating new midwives.

Design: An exploratory quantitative research study.

Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to 694 midwives who had previously conducted educational activities with new midwives at the 63 facilities whose administrator or nurse manager in charge of all staff, including midwives, consented to participate. Of the 694 midwives, 464 (66.9%) returned the questionnaire and 451 (65.1%) valid responses were analyzed. Exploratory factor analyses were performed on the following three concepts: [competency as a professional], [competency as an educator], and [personal characteristics].

Results: [Competency as a professional] consisted of two factors: <self-awareness and self-reflection for finding confidence> and <sharing their midwifery practice>; [competency as an educator] consisted of four factors: <supporting experimental study>, <thoughtfulness and empathy for new midwives>, <making effective use of new midwives' own experience> and <commitment to educational activities>; and [personal characteristics consisted of three factors: <exercising leadership> <approachability>, and <tendency to be a caring mentor>. These three concepts were defined by a total of nine sub-concepts (factors), and 41 items were extracted with a reliability coefficient (Cronbach's α) of 0.944 CONCLUSIONS: "Mentoring competencies of clinical midwives (MCCM)" are defined by three concepts and nine sub-concepts, which can be evaluated by 41 items regarding the behavior, thoughts, and characteristics that clinical midwives exhibit when they educate new midwives in clinical settings.

Keywords: Clinical education; Educational competency; Exploratory factor analysis; Mentor; Midwife; Preceptor.