Introduction: To provide optimal obstetric care, it is important to properly prepare the graduates of obstetrics to take up employment in the profession and provide the highest level of service. Practical education should promote an innovative approach and support comprehensive student development. One of the key elements of this is the implementation of mentoring in the education of students in obstetrics.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the implementation of a practical learning programme based on a mentoring system. The evaluation was conducted by assessing the experiences and opinions of the project participants.
Materials and methods: The study involved 20 midwifery students of the Medical University of Warsaw who took practical classes in the mentoring system in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at the Solec Hospital in Warsaw with a group of 8 mentor-midwives from the Solec Hospital. The study was carried out in the years 2017–2019. Participants were interviewed and asked 5 questions concerning their opinions and experiences of the implementation of practical activities in accordance with the idea of mentoring.
Results: Students highly valued the quality of practical classes in terms of improving professional skills and acquiring new competences under the supervision of experienced mentors. The mentors indicated that mentoring enriched the traditional didactic process.
Conclusions: Mentoring is a modern and innovative form of teaching practical lessons. The use of mentoring in the education of obstetrics students allows an improvement in the quality of internships.
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