Clark Emma, Solomon Julie, Cunningham Shayna D, Bard Kristin, Storey Akane Sugimoto
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee.
J. Solomon Consulting, LLC, Mountain View, California.
J Midwifery Womens Health. 2023 Sep-Oct;68(5):627-636. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13508. Epub 2023 May 18.
Midwifery leadership is vital for improving maternal health outcomes, yet limited leadership training opportunities exist. This study evaluated acceptability and preliminary outcomes of Leadership Link, a scalable online learning program that aims to increase midwives' leadership competencies.
The program evaluation study enrolled early-career midwives (<10 years since certification) into an online leadership curriculum using the LinkedIn Learning platform. The curriculum consisted of 10 courses (approximately 11 hours) of self-paced, non-health care-specific leadership content supplemented with brief midwifery-specific introductions from midwifery leaders. A preprogram, postprogram, and follow-up study design was used to evaluate changes in 16 self-assessed leadership abilities, self-perception as a leader, and resilience. Data were also collected on the application of leadership skills acquired through, and career advancements attributed to, program participation.
A total of 186 individuals activated LinkedIn Learning accounts. Almost half (41.9%) completed the full curriculum. Satisfaction was high, with 83.3% of postprogram survey respondents reporting the program was "probably" or "definitely" worth the time invested. Seventy-six participants (40.9%) provided matched pre- and immediate postprogram survey data on at least some of the 16 self-assessed leadership abilities. All 16 abilities showed statistically significant increases in pre- to postprogram mean scores, ranging from 6.4% to 32.5%. Both self-perception as a leader and resilience scores significantly increased from baseline. More than 87% of postprogram and follow-up survey respondents reported having applied new or improved leadership abilities to at least a small degree. Fifty-eight percent of follow-up survey respondents reported at least one midwifery career advancement, of whom 43.6% attributed the advancement, at least in part, to Leadership Link.
The findings suggest that the online Leadership Link curriculum is acceptable and may be effective in improving midwives' leadership capacity, potentially enhancing career opportunities and engagement in system change.
助产士领导力对于改善孕产妇健康结局至关重要，但领导力培训机会有限。本研究评估了“领导力链接”（Leadership Link）这一可扩展的在线学习项目的可接受性和初步成果，该项目旨在提高助产士的领导能力。
该项目评估研究招募了处于职业生涯早期的助产士（自获得认证以来不足10年）参加使用领英学习平台的在线领导力课程。该课程由10门课程（约11小时）组成，内容为自定进度、非特定于医疗保健领域的领导力内容，并由助产士领导者提供简短的特定于助产领域的介绍。采用项目前、项目后及随访研究设计，以评估16项自我评估的领导能力、作为领导者的自我认知以及恢复力的变化。还收集了通过参与项目所获得的领导技能应用情况以及项目参与对职业发展的影响的数据。
共有186人激活了领英学习账户。近一半（41.9%）的人完成了全部课程。满意度很高，83.3%的项目后调查受访者表示该项目“可能”或“肯定”值得投入时间。76名参与者（40.9%）至少就16项自我评估的领导能力中的一些提供了项目前和项目后即时调查数据。所有16项能力在项目前到项目后的平均得分上均有统计学显著提高，增幅从6.4%到32.5%。作为领导者的自我认知和恢复力得分均从基线显著提高。超过87%的项目后和随访调查受访者表示至少在一定程度上应用了新的或提升后的领导能力。58%的随访调查受访者报告至少有一项助产士职业发展进展，其中43.6%将该进展至少部分归因于“领导力链接”项目。
研究结果表明，在线“领导力链接”课程是可接受的，可能有助于提高助产士的领导能力，潜在地增加职业机会并促进其参与系统变革。
