Learning together: new study tests if paired practice boosts student confidence for a common birth procedure

This study tested a new teaching method called 'Learning in Pairs' (LiP) for training midwifery students on how to perform and repair an episiotomy, a common surgical cut made during childbirth. Researchers wanted to see if practicing with a fellow student, instead of alone under instructor observation, would improve the students' knowledge, boost their confidence (self-efficacy), and lower their anxiety about the procedure. The trial involved 92 midwifery students who were split into two groups to compare the new paired learning approach against traditional training methods.