Development of an Instrument to Measure the Competencies of Respectful Maternity Care: A methodological study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Despite respectful maternity care (RMC) being an essential component of safe and quality maternity care, disrespectful maternity care still occurs globally. A theory-practice gap is evident between student education in RMC and what is being role modelled by skilled birth attendants within the clinical learning environment. Therefore, the competency of skilled birth attendants in RMC needs to be advanced to strengthen it in practice. Strengthening the RMC practices of skilled birth attendants may also contribute to the ways in which students transfer their learning, by creating a positive work and learning environment. As a result, motivated students might model competent RMC behavior, thus contributing to future skilled birth attendants’ transfer of learning of RMC practices. An instrument that measures competency in RMC practices can aid in determining whether skilled birth attendants and/or students are competent in rendering this kind of care. An RMC tool can also assist in identifying professional developmental areas. However, as no such instrument exists yet – one that measures the knowledge, skills, and behavior of skilled birth attendants in RMC practices – the need for the development of such an instrument was identified was this research. Methods: A methodological research design was implemented to develop the instrument; a literature search was conducted using the string search to identify elements related to the knowledge, skills, and behavior of skill birth attendants performing sound RMC to formulate measurable RMC items. Forty-four items were included in the developed instrument, and a Delphi technique determined face and content validity. Data for the Delphi study were gathered from experts using an online questionnaire via the Evasys® platform, and a consensus was reached after two Delphi rounds. Results: Experts agreed that all 44 items pertaining to the skilled birth attendants’ ' knowledge, skills, and behavior in RMC should be included in the RMC competency measuring instrument. No new items emerged from the Delphi rounds. Conclusion: The development and validation of this RMC competency measuring instrument can measure competence in RMC, which could contribute to the training of students and skilled birth attendants and to countering the trend of disrespectful maternity care.