Midwifery educators' experiences and perceptions following a highfidelity birth simulator workshop.

Background: Uninformed adoption of simulation technology such as high-fidelity simulators may result in ineffective learning and teaching. However, in the literature little is known about specific developmental approaches to prepare midwifery educators for using this pedagogy. Aims: The overall aim of this research was to describe the experiences of midwifery educators following a 2-day high-fidelity workshop and the impact on their perceived preparedness to teach using a high-fidelity simulator. Methods: Qualitative data were gathered from one semi-structured focus group 2 weeks following the workshop. Thematic analysis identified emergent themes pertaining to the research objectives. Findings: Four main themes emerged from the data: fears regarding complex technology, time for scenario-building, opportunity for team-building, and enhancement of the curriculum. Conclusions: Initial face-to-face high-fidelity workshops are recommended to achieve successful integration of high-fidelity simulators into midwifery education, with supportive materials to promote continued accessibility and learning. Support from technical staff is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]