A Comparison of Teaching Legal Issues of Abortion through Role Play and Standardized Patient Methods on Clinical Performance of Midwifery Students Regarding Abortion

Background and purpose: Midwives play a vital role in prenatal care and facilitating access to abortion services in specific cases, making it essential for them to have knowledge of therapeutic and criminal abortion laws. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two teaching methods, role-play and standardized patient scenarios,on midwifery students' clinical performance concerning abortion legal issues. Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental study, 75 midwifery students from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the role-play or standardized patient group. The intervention involved a one-day training workshop and four practical sessions using both teaching methods. Data were collected using a researcher-designed clinical performance evaluation form based on the Askie method. Educational materials included source books, forensic medicine guidelines, and Ministry of Health pregnancy screening instructions. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16) with independent and paired t-tests and the Mann-Whitney test. Results: Overall, students' performance scores significantly improved in both groups after the intervention, with no significant difference between them (p=0.603). Both role-play and standardized patient methods effectively enhanced students' clinical performance, with no discernible superiority of one method over the other. Conclusion: Both teaching methods had a positive impact on students' clinical performance, and there was no significant difference between them. Consequently, educators can choose either method based on feasibility and cost-effectiveness. Considering the potential cost and logistical challenges associated with standardized patient scenarios, the role-play method may be preferred for teaching abortion legal issues to midwifery student.