Effect of workshop training on midwives' communication skills and maternal satisfaction in maternity block

Context: Communication skills have an important role in people satisfactions. Mothers’ satisfactions with midwives’ communication skills can make an appropriate setting in order to achieve psychological and physical health of mothers.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of training workshop on midwives’ communication skills and mothers’ satisfaction in maternity unit. Setting and Design: This semi-experimental study was done with participation of 40 midwives in maternity unit and 100 mothers in postnatural delivery ward in Mahdieh Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2016.

Materials and Methods: Sampling was done by census method for midwives and by available method for mothers. Two sessions of communication skills workshop were performed for mothers in two consecutive days. Midwives’ communication skills were assessed by Jerabek questionnaire and mothers’ satisfaction was measured by satisfaction with communication questionnaire before intervention and 4 weeks later.

Statistical Analysis Used: Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, frequency, mean, standard deviation, pair and independent t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient and regression were used for data analysis.

Results: Before intervention, mean and standard deviation for midwives’ communication skills was 99.44 ± 9.19 and for mothers’ satisfaction was 61.88 ± 17.8. After communication skills training workshop, midwives’ communication skill raised to 139.62 ± 7.13 (P = 0.002) and mothers’ satisfaction increased to 88.68 ± 12.79 (P = 0.003).

Conclusion: Communication skill training to midwives may have a positive effect on mothers’ satisfaction. Thus, integrating communication skills training in continuing midwifery education program is suggested.