Awareness And Opinion Regarding Nurse Practitioner In Midwifery Course Among Stakeholders At Healthcare Settings In Delhi: A Descriptive Study

Background: Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery (NPMs) play a crucial role in maternal and neonatal healthcare, yet their integration into healthcare system varies globally. Objectives: to assess the awareness and opinion regarding Nurse Practitioner in Midwifery course of stakeholders, to find the difference between awareness and opinion of stakeholders, to find the relationship between the awareness and opinion of stakeholders and to find the association of awareness and opinion of stakeholders with selected socio-demographic variables. Methods and material: A descriptive survey was conducted with a sample of 600 stakeholders (Doctors, Nursing Faculty and Practicing Nurses) using purposive and snowball sampling technique. Tool: socio-demographic variables, Structured Awareness Questionnaire using multiple choice questions and Structured Opinion Rating Scale using five-point Likert scale. After obtaining ethical clearance the data was collected with the help of Google form and consent taken from the stakeholders. Results: The findings show that majority 116 (59.8%) doctors, 128 (63.05%) nursing faculty and 128 (63.05%) practicing nurses were having adequate awareness about NPM course. Total number of 35 (18.04%) doctors, 51 (25.1%) nursing faculty and 48 (25.12%) practicing nurses were having moderately adequate awareness about NPM course. Remaining 43 (22.2%) doctors, 24 (11.8%) nursing faculty and 27 (11.82%) practicing nurses were having inadequate awareness about NPM course, majority 104 (53.6%) doctors, 107 (52.7%) nursing faculty, 109 (53.7%) practicing nurses had neutral opinion. Total 83 (42.8%) doctor, 89 (43.8%) nursing faculty and 86 (42.4%) practicing nurses had favorable opinion. Remaining 7 (3.6%) doctors, 7 (3.4%) nursing faculty and 8 (3.9%) practicing nurses had unfavorable opinion. There were no significant differences in awareness and opinion of different stakeholders at 0.05 level of significance. There was a weak negative correlation between awareness and opinion of stakeholders regarding NPM course, which was significant at 0.05 level of significance. There was a significant association of awareness of stakeholders with the selected socio-demographic variables (age, gender and years of experience) at 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion: The study concluded that there was an adequate awareness, and neutral opinion about NPM course among stakeholders. While the introduction of the NPM course holds promise for strengthening midwifery services, concerted efforts are required to bridge knowledge gaps and align stakeholder perceptions with the course’s objectives. By fostering a well-informed and supportive environment, the full potential of Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery can be realized, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare outcomes in Delhi.