Evidence – Based Medicine and Evidence – Based Midwifery Practice – Knowledge and Attitudes of Students of Midwifery

The awareness of benefits resulting from the use of the latest research findings in the professional practice of midwives is a prerequisite to ensuring safe midwifery care satisfying the highest standards. Thus, it is important to encourage midwifery students to expand their knowledge and to improve their research methodology and critical analysis of literature-related competence. Aim The aim of the study was to analyse the knowledge and attitudes of midwifery students with respect to Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) and Evidence-Based Midwifery Practice (EBMP) in relation to their undertaking of professional practice. Material and Methods 116 students of the second-level midwifery at Medical University of Warsaw (1 male), 67 people do not work in the profession, 49 people have taken up work in midwifery. The mean age of the population studied 26.37 years (min. 22, max. 50, SD = 6.53); 72% full-time students, 50% of the 1 year. 38% obtained the Bachelor’s degree in midwifery in 2012. Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire of University of South Australia, quantitative analysis of research findings. Statistical analysis, nonparametric U Mann-Whitney tests and chi: STATISTICA version 10.0. Results Students of midwifery not working in the midwifery profession revealed higher awareness of the existence, significance and development of EBMP (medians 15 vs. 16, U Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.049). They also had greater knowledge of relevant terminology: 21 people not working in the profession declared understanding of the term systematic review and partial understanding of the term publication bias (U Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.034 and p = 0.011, respectively). A markedly higher number of people (n = 35) who have not taken up practising the midwifery profession declared having formulated a correct clinical question concerning a patient, a problem, actions taken and their results at least once a month last year (U Mann-Whitney Test, p = 0.022). Conclusions 1. In both compared groups the level of knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice is not sufficient and requires urgent upgrading in terms of both knowledge and skills of students in this area. 2. Students not working as midwives have greater EBP-related knowledge than the studied group of students working in the profession. 3. In order to improve the knowledge of midwives with respect to the use of EBP in everyday clinical work it is advisable to provide them with additional training and to expand their skills in the area of methodology of scientific research. 4. There is a need for ongoing updating by midwives of their knowledge with respect to the use of the latest scientific research findings in professional practice.