title: Core principles to reduce current variations that exist in grading of midwifery practice in the United Kingdom.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To reduce variations in grading of midwifery practice and enhance reliability of assessment.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The first phase of a national project showed there to be widely ranging interpretation and application of professional educational standards in relation to grading of practice in midwifery. This raised concerns about reliability and equity of professional assessment. The second phase therefore sought to achieve consensus on a set of core principles.
  
  
  METHODS
  A participatory action research process in two stages, using a Mini-Delphi approach. Educational leads from all 55 institutions delivering midwifery programmes nationally were invited to participate. Stage one: Questionnaire comprising 12 statements drawn from the findings of the initial phase of the project. Stage two: Face-to-face discussion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statements were categorised based on questionnaire responses: 1) Consensus, 2) Staged consensus, 2) Minor modifications, 4) Controversial. Consensus was achieved on 11 core principles through group discussion; only one was omitted from the final set.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All midwifery programmes nationally to incorporate the agreed core principles. Findings should be disseminated to the regulatory body to help inform changes to midwifery and nursing educational standards. The core principles may also contribute to curriculum development in midwifery and other professions internationally.
authors.affiliation: 8 Portland Villas, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: margaret.fisher@plymouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Bournemouth University, Royal London House, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 3LT, United Kingdom. Electronic address: sueway@bournemouth.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Way
authors.affiliation: University Campus Suffolk, Waterfront Building, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1QJ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: s.chenerymorris@ucs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chenery-Morris
authors.affiliation: Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, CT1 1QU, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.m.jackson221@canterbury.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Lead Midwife for Education, University of Greenwich, Avery Hill Road, Eltham, London, SE9 2UG, United Kingdom. Electronic address: H.M.Bower@greenwich.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bower
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000592:standards*; D009721:Nurse Midwives / Q000193:education*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Assessment; Grading; Midwifery; Participatory action research; Practice; Professional