ISeeYou - Evaluation of a woman-centred care pilot project in Bachelor midwifery education and research

Aim: to evaluate the ISeeYou project that aims to equip first year Bachelor midwifery students to support them in their learning of providing woman-centred care. Methods: the project has an ethnographic design. First year midwifery students buddied up to one woman throughout her continuum of the childbirth process and accompanied her during her antenatal and postnatal care encounters. Participant-observation was utilised by the students to support their learning. The Client Centred Care Questionnaire (CCCQ) was administered to collect data about women's care experiences. The project was evaluated using the SWOT model. Main findings: 54 first year students completed the project and observed and evaluated on average eight prenatal visits and two postnatal visits. Students gained insight into women's lived experiences during the childbirth process and of received care throughout this period. Students reported that this was meaningful and supported and enhanced their comprehension of women-centred care. Logistic issues (lectures, travel, time) and being conscious of their role as an 'outsider' sometimes constrained, but never hindered, the students in meeting the requirements of the project. Overall, the project provided students with opportunities to expand competencies and to broaden their outlook on midwifery care. Conclusion: the project offers students unique and in-depth experiences supporting and augmenting their professional competencies and their personal, professional and academic development.