Iranian Journal of Medical Education

Introduction: Providing proper training for midwives and creating the right attitude during education would help them select the appropriate delivery method for clients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of multimedia-based teaching and role-playing on midwifery students’ knowledge and attitude towards vaginal delivery.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 124 undergraduate midwifery students of Islamic Azad University, Kerman branch, were selected through census method and divided into two groups of multimedia-based teaching and role-playing in delivery methods. Both groups took a pre-test and two post-tests immediately after and 6 weeks after the training. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistical tests, independent t-test, paired t-test and repeated measures design test.

Results: There was a significant difference in the mean scores of knowledge (p=0. 012) and attitude (p=0. 048) between the two groups immediately after the training. Although no significant difference was found in the mean scores of knowledge and attitude between the two groups 6 weeks after the training, the repeated measures design test with time-related effects eliminated, showed that the variation of the mean scores of knowledge (P=0. 029 and F=5. 383) and attitude (P<0. 05 and F=3. 365) were higher in the multimedia-based training group.

Conclusion: The results showed the favorable impact of both methods on midwifery students’ increased knowledge and attitude towards vaginal delivery. This study may contribute to education in terms of developing both educational content and new methods of education at all levels. It is suggested that these two methods should be used complementarily with each other or other methods.