An interprofessional day of hi-fi simulation of Family and Domestic Violence with midwifery students and social work students

Abstract

An interprofessional simulated learning day with standardized patients (hired actors) was held for student midwives and student social workers in a simulated hospital ward in response to a situation involving Family and Domestic Violence (FDV). Two scenes were pre-written and an unplanned scene was also improvised. Initial evaluation of the session was conducted by questionnaire, with capacity for quantitative responses using a five point Likert Scale and qualitative replies to questions via textbox. A focus group with the six midwifery students offered an opportunity to provide feedback the following week. Overall findings suggest that students found the simulation a realistic, valuable and safe experience. Student midwives felt less prepared than the social work students and some were confronted by the realism when faced with a scene of FDV; all valued the interprofessional experience and found it useful to discover the role of their professional counterparts in responding to FDV.