Effect of Simulation-Based Education on Knowledge, Skills, and Self-Efficacy in Postpartum Hemorrhage Management

Overview

Postpartum hemorrhage is an important obstetric emergency that requires early recognition and timely management. Midwifery students may have limited opportunities to practise postpartum hemorrhage management repeatedly in real clinical settings. Simulation-based education may help students practise assessment, decision-making, emergency interventions, communication, and documentation in a safe learning environment. This study evaluated the effect of simulation-based education on third-year midwifery students' knowledge, postpartum hemorrhage management skill performance, and self-efficacy. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Both groups received traditional theoretical education on postpartum hemorrhage management. The intervention group additionally received simulation-based postpartum hemorrhage management education using a high-fidelity birthing simulator. Knowledge and self-efficacy were assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and four weeks later. Skill performance was assessed immediately after the intervention and again four weeks later using a structured skills checklist. The study aimed to determine whether simulation-based education improved students' learning outcomes compared with traditional theoretical education alone.

This randomized controlled study was designed to evaluate the effect of simulation-based education on midwifery students' learning outcomes in postpartum hemorrhage management. The study was conducted with third-year undergraduate midwifery students at a university in Istanbul, Türkiye. Eligible participants were third-year midwifery students who had completed the Normal Birth and Midwifery Care course and were enrolled in the High-Risk Birth and Midwifery Care course during the 2022-2023 academic year. Students who agreed to participate were randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. All participants first received traditional theoretical education on postpartum hemorrhage management. The theoretical education included the definition, importance, etiology, risk factors, prevention, treatment, and management of postpartum hemorrhage. The intervention group then received additional simulation-based postpartum hemorrhage management education. The simulation session was conducted in a simulation laboratory arranged as a postpartum patient room and used a high-fidelity birthing simulator. The simulation included prebriefing, a postpartum hemorrhage scenario, and debriefing. Moulage and clinical equipment were used to support scenario realism. The control group received traditional theoretical education only and did not participate in the simulation-based education session. Participants in both groups completed the same outcome assessments. The primary learning outcomes were postpartum hemorrhage management knowledge, skill performance, and self-efficacy. Knowledge was measured using the Postpartum Hemorrhage Management Knowledge Test. Self-efficacy was measured using the Postpartum Hemorrhage Management Self-Efficacy Form. Skill performance was assessed using the Postpartum Hemorrhage Management Skills Checklist by external observers. Knowledge and self-efficacy were measured at three time points: baseline, immediately after the intervention, and four weeks after the intervention. Skill performance was assessed immediately after the intervention and at the four-week follow-up. The study compared changes in these outcomes between the intervention and control groups to determine whether simulation-based education provided additional benefit beyond traditional theoretical education.