Antenatal provision of additional information about the role of students in the labour suite and their subsequent involvement in care: a randomised controlled trial

To determine whether the antenatal provision of additional information to p regnant women about the roles of medical and midwifery students in the labo ur suite increases their actual and theoretical involvement in care during labour, 624 pregnant women booked for delivery at Ninewells Hospital and Me dical School, Dundee were randomised at 34 weeks gestation to receive eithe r a specifically produced information leaflet through the post on the roles of medical and midwifery students in the labour suite, or no additional in formation. Post delivery and following discharge, women were asked to compl ete a questionnaire about people who were involved in their care during lab our. There were no significant differences in a women's willingness (actual or theoretical) to have medical or midwifery students involved in their ca re between women who received additional information and those who did not. Of those women who had a student present during labour, midwifery students were significantly more involved in all care activities than medical stude nts (p<0.01 for all activities), with the exception of vaginal examination. Women who did not have a student present because one was not available, bu t who indicated that they would have allowed a student to participate in th eir care if one had been available, were significantly more likely to allow a midwifery student to perform vaginal examinations, assist with delivery and attend the baby than medical students (p<0.01 for all activities). They would allow equal participation in other activities. For both groups of st udents, these women appeared to be willing for significantly more active in volvement in care than is happening in practice.