title: Student midwives and paramedic students' experiences of shared learning in pre-hospital childbirth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of midwifery and paramedic students undertaking interprofessional learning.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one day interprofessional learning workshop incorporating peer assisted learning for undergraduate pre-registration midwifery and paramedic students was developed based on collaborative practice theory and simulation based learning. Twenty-five student midwives and thirty-one paramedic students participated in one of two identical workshops conducted over separate days. Videoed focus group sessions were held following the workshop sessions in order to obtain qualitative data around student experience. Qualitative data analysis software (ATLAS.ti) was used to collate the transcriptions from the focus group sessions and the video recordings were scrutinised. Thematic analysis was adopted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four main themes were identified around the understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities, the value of interprofessional learning, organisation and future learning. Students appeared to benefit from a variety of learning opportunities including interprofessional learning and peer assisted learning through the adoption of both formal and informal teaching methods, including simulation based learning. A positive regard for each other's profession including professional practice, professional governing bodies, professional codes and scope of practice was apparent. Students expressed a desire to undertake similar workshops with other professional students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interprofessional learning workshops were found to be a positive experience for the students involved. Consideration needs to be given to developing interprofessional learning with other student groups aligned with midwifery at appropriate times in relation to stage of education.
authors.affiliation: University of Cumbria, United Kingdom. Electronic address: christina.feltham@cumbria.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feltham
authors.affiliation: University of Cumbria, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: University of Cumbria, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: University of Cumbria, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stewart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ralph
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D024382:Professional Role; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Interprofessional learning; Paramedic students; Peer assisted learning; Responsibilities; Roles; Student midwives; Teamwork