Competence, Competency and Use of Technology in Midwives
Articles > Review · 2021
Authors: Melek Balçık Çolak, Hafize ÖZTÜRK CAN
Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Health Sciences, Refereed Journals of Other Institutions, International, Scopus, 2021, vol 6, pp 340-349
DOI: 10.5336/healthsci.2020-75575
Summary
<p>ABS TRACT Competence is defined as “the level of performance resulting</p><p>from the skills that can be observed” and competency is defined as</p><p>“behavior and functional skill that enables the emergence of extraordinary</p><p>performance”. The concept of competency is used in management, human</p><p>resource management, education, politics, and psychology, and it provides</p><p>common language formation, excellent performance evaluation, but it is</p><p>not a job description. Competency components contribute to the development</p><p>of knowledge, attitude and skill. The concept of competency</p><p>model is the list of competencies that list the features that provide superior</p><p>success in practice and are the groups of behaviors that describe the</p><p>excellent performance arranged according to the topics. According to</p><p>World Health Organization, competency definition in midwifery is that it</p><p>is one of the many determinants of performance and it is a framework that</p><p>reflects the knowledge, attitude and psychomotor elements of midwifery</p><p>practices. According to International Confederation of Midwives (ICM),</p><p>it is the safe and effective application of knowledge, skills and attitudes.</p><p>According to The National Core Education Program of Midwifery Before</p><p>Graduation, they are skills and practices that should be related to the</p><p>profession. It shows the level of midwifery practices and the graduated</p><p>individual has the necessary competencies. Midwifery education program</p><p>competence have been examined in 11 main areas which are community</p><p>health, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, newborn, research, women and counseling.</p><p>While seven of them are the competency areas determined by ICM,</p><p>four of them are determined as competence. Competence and competency</p><p>midwives will benefit the caregivers and the profession for development.</p><p>Using technology in practice is accepted as an important criterion for competency</p><p>and competence. Although there are many reasons for using</p><p>technology in midwifery applications, the use of technology is also</p><p>complicated. Midwives should have clinical decision-making skills</p><p>based on the installation, use, detection of malfunctions and interpretation</p><p>of the outputs of technological tools and machines that will affect</p><p>their professional competence. They should be able to decide the infusion</p><p>rate in accordance with the findings of the labor, have knowledge</p><p>about the effect of drugs on the physiological process, and communicate</p><p>with the woman in a relationship of trust. In addition, they have legal</p><p>obligations to record the situations in labor. The purpose of this study is</p><p>to raise awareness about midwifery competence, competency and using</p><p>technology and to make important contributions to the advancement of</p><p>midwifery profession.</p>