Preceptors' perceptions and experiences of clinical birth education: a qualitative study

Aim: This study aimed to explore preceptors’ perceptions and experiences of clinical birth education. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was employed. Methods: The study involved 22 preceptors engaged in clinical birth education. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Analysis revealed four overarching themes: (1) causes of fear, (2) sources of motivation, (3) deficiencies in clinical midwifery education, and (4) characteristics of high-quality education. Conclusion: Optimizing clinical learning in birth wards requires effective management of students’ emotions and the enhancement of their motivation. Addressing deficiencies, improving the clinical learning environment, and selecting qualified preceptors – supported by targeted preceptorship training are critical to advancing the quality of birth education.