Learning in Pairs in Episiotomy Training

There are significant shortcomings in current educational practices regarding midwives acquiring episiotomy skills. The acquisition of episiotomy skills by midwifery students begins in episiotomy skills laboratories. Students acquiring these skills in the laboratory involves being able to assess the indications for episiotomy and perform appropriate interventions based on the indication. Numerous intervention studies have been conducted on teaching episiotomy skills to students. In most of these studies, sponges, chickens, and cow tongues were preferred as simulators, and the effectiveness of the training was evaluated by applying different teaching methods. In addition to simulators used in episiotomy training, there are teaching methods used in midwifery clinical education, one of which is the paired learning model. This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of the learning in pairs model in episiotomy training on episiotomy knowledge level, episiotomy self-efficacy, and state anxiety levels among midwifery students. The study will be conducted with a total of 92 midwifery students, divided into an intervention group (n=46) and a control group (n=46) (1:1 ratio). Data will be collected using the "Student Information Form," "Episiotomy Information Form," "Episiotomy Self-Efficacy Scale," and "State Anxiety Inventory" in pre-test and post-test formats. The research sample will consist of all students enrolled in the midwifery program and the Normal Birth and Postpartum Period course who agree to participate in the study. At the end of the study, it is expected that the effects of the learning in pairs (LiP) model on students' learning in episiotomy repair training will be explained. It is believed that the research results will contribute to midwifery education by enriching the methods used in midwifery students' education.