Home
Issues
Aim & Scope
Open Access
Editorial Board
Indexing
Supporting Midwifery Associations
Contact us
Manuscript Types
Manuscript Formatting
How to submit
Special publications and Reprints
Authorship & COI
Principles of Transparency Checklist
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
The effect of an educational program on midwifery students' cultural sensitivity, awareness, and professional values: A quasi-experimental study
1
Bartin Univercity, Department of Midwifery, Bartın, Turkey
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A106
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Integrating cultural competence and professional values into midwifery curricula is essential for developing a culturally sensitive and ethically grounded professional identity. However, structured educational interventions in early-year midwifery education remain limited.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Culturally-Aware Midwifery History and Professional Values Education Program, developed for first-year midwifery students, on their levels of cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity, and professional values.
METHODS:
A quasi-experimental, single-group pretest–posttest design was used. The program was conducted with 36 first-year midwifery students following ethics committee approval. It was delivered over 12 weeks with weekly 90-minute sessions. The content included the historical and cultural evolution of midwifery, intercultural midwifery practices, and core professional values. Various reflective and interactive methods were employed to promote students’ cultural competence. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Midwives’ Professional Values Scale (MPVS), the Intercultural Awareness Scale, and the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0.
RESULTS:
Paired samples t-test results revealed a significant increase in students’ cultural awareness (p = .006) and in the respect dimension of professional values (p = .006) after the intervention. However, no statistically significant changes were found in other areas, including overall cultural sensitivity, communication, responsibility, or self-confidence (p > .05).
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings suggest that the program effectively enhanced students' cultural awareness and certain professional values. This supports the need for culturally-oriented, reflective educational models in midwifery curricula and highlights the importance of embedding such content into the early stages of professional training through structured and longitudinal interventions.
KEY MESSAGE:
Midwifery education Cultural awareness Cultural sensitivity Professional values Quasi-experimental study Educational program Education - cultural safety
Integrating cultural competence and professional values into midwifery curricula is essential for developing a culturally sensitive and ethically grounded professional identity. However, structured educational interventions in early-year midwifery education remain limited.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Culturally-Aware Midwifery History and Professional Values Education Program, developed for first-year midwifery students, on their levels of cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity, and professional values.
METHODS:
A quasi-experimental, single-group pretest–posttest design was used. The program was conducted with 36 first-year midwifery students following ethics committee approval. It was delivered over 12 weeks with weekly 90-minute sessions. The content included the historical and cultural evolution of midwifery, intercultural midwifery practices, and core professional values. Various reflective and interactive methods were employed to promote students’ cultural competence. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Midwives’ Professional Values Scale (MPVS), the Intercultural Awareness Scale, and the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0.
RESULTS:
Paired samples t-test results revealed a significant increase in students’ cultural awareness (p = .006) and in the respect dimension of professional values (p = .006) after the intervention. However, no statistically significant changes were found in other areas, including overall cultural sensitivity, communication, responsibility, or self-confidence (p > .05).
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings suggest that the program effectively enhanced students' cultural awareness and certain professional values. This supports the need for culturally-oriented, reflective educational models in midwifery curricula and highlights the importance of embedding such content into the early stages of professional training through structured and longitudinal interventions.
KEY MESSAGE:
Midwifery education Cultural awareness Cultural sensitivity Professional values Quasi-experimental study Educational program Education - cultural safety
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
