Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring

The effect of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) education program on EFM interpretation skills

Purpose: The aim of this study is to train midwifery students on electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) within the scope of the course and then to evaluate their pre- and post-course EFM knowledge and EFM interpreting skills.Methods: This interventional study was carried out at the Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences. The study population comprised of the senior (last-year, 4th-year) students who attended the Midwifery Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences during the academic years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. Of the 4th year students in the midwifery department, 42 who attended the school during the academic year 2015-16 and 61 who attended the school during the academic year 2016-2017 and accepted to participate in the study comprised the study sample.Results: The difference between the pre- and post-EFM course scores was statistically significant (p<.05). While the mean score obtained by the students before the EFM course was 55.29 ± 11.17, it was 76.15 ± 6.72 after the EFM course. Analysis of the success rates of the midwifery students in the EFM/NST course demonstrated that 80.6% of the students were successful.Conclusions: The findings of the study demonstrated that the participants' postcourse EFM knowledge and trace interpretation skills were better than their precourse EFM knowledge and trace interpretation skills.