International clinical experience for midwifery students

Introduction: The purpose of this survey was to obtain information that would elucidate what types and amounts of international clinical experiences are available to midwifery students in accredited midwifery programs. Furthermore, the survey assessed the need for and interest in an online pre-trip preparation course and the possibility of future collaborative efforts between midwifery programs. Methods: A formal electronic descriptive survey was sent to eligible directors of midwifery education (DOME) from 38 accredited institutions in the United States. Results: Twenty-nine of 38 (76%) responded to the survey, and 9 of 29 programs (31%) offer international clinical experiences. Sixteen (80%) of the 20 programs not currently offering international experiences indicated interest in offering these experiences. Of the 9 programs that have international experiences, only 1 reported offering a formal pre-trip course. Discussion: The results of this survey suggest that there is interest in collaborative efforts for developing a formal pre-trip preparation course and sharing international experiences that would promote sustainable programs of international experiences for student midwives.