UK student midwives’ theoretical knowledge, confidence, and experience of intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart rate during labour: An online cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore student midwives’ theoretical knowledge of intrapartum intermittent auscultation, their confidence in, and their experience of this mode of fetal monitoring. Design and Setting: An online cross-section survey with closed and open questions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse participants’ intermittent auscultation knowledge, confidence, and experience. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify patterns within the free text about participants’ experiences. Participants: Undergraduate midwifery students (n = 303) from Nursing and Midwifery Council-approved educational institutions within the United Kingdom. Findings: Most participants demonstrated good theoretical knowledge. They had witnessed the technique being used in clinical practice, and when performed, the practice was reported to be in line with national guidance. In closed questions, participants reported feeling confident in their intermittent auscultation skills; however, these data contrasted with free-text responses. Conclusion: This cross-sectional survey found that student midwives possess adequate knowledge of intermittent auscultation. However, reflecting individual clinical experiences, their confidence in their ability to perform intermittent auscultation varied. A lack of opportunity to practice intermittent auscultation, organisational culture, and midwives’ preferences have caused student midwives to question their capabilities with this essential clinical skill, leaving some with doubt about their competency close to registration.