Supportive Care-Based Training and Psychological Outcomes in Midwifery Students

The Effect of Training Programs Based on Different Supportive Care Models in Childbirth on Midwifery Students' Clinical Self-Efficacy and Psychological Outcomes

The aim of this study is to comparatively evaluate the effects of trauma-informed supportive care model training in childbirth and universal supportive care model training in childbirth provided to midwifery students on their clinical skill self-efficacy in the delivery room, state anxiety, and secondary traumatic stress levels.

This study was designed as a quasi-experimental comparative study. Data will be collected from fourth-year midwifery students enrolled in the Midwifery Department of Mersin University during the 2025-2026 academic year who undertake clinical practice in the delivery room of Mersin City Training and Research Hospital. Students who meet the inclusion criteria will be informed about the purpose and procedures of the study, and written informed consent will be obtained. Participants will be allocated to either the universal supportive care model training group or the trauma-informed supportive care model training group based on their academic semester (fall or spring), in line with the existing curriculum structure.

Both training programs will be delivered through theoretical and practical sessions prior to clinical application. Data will be collected from the participants themselves at three time points: before the intervention, immediately after providing childbirth care in the delivery room, and one week after the intervention, using validated self-report measurement tools assessing clinical skill self-efficacy, state and trait anxiety, and secondary traumatic stress levels. The planning, implementation, and reporting of the study will be conducted in accordance with relevant ethical principles and reporting guidelines for quasi-experimental research.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Voluntary participation in the study
• Native Turkish speakers
• Enrollment as a fourth-year student in the Midwifery Department of Mersin University during the 2025-2026 academic year
• Enrollment in Perinatal Health Practices I or Perinatal Health Practices II
• Participation in delivery room clinical practice at Mersin City Training and Research Hospital
• No diagnosed psychiatric disorder and no use of psychiatric medication

Exclusion Criteria:

• Withdrawal from the study at any stage upon the participant's own request