Introduction: Training and internship periods play important roles in shaping basic skills and professional abilities of midwifery students and problems such as stress can influence the efficiency of the clinical training. The aim of this study was to investigate the stressful experiences of midwifery students during clinical education in the labor room.
Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study 71 midwifery students who had internship or apprenticeship experience were selected by census method surveyed about stressful factors in the delivery room at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. For gathering data a questionnaire consisted of individual variables and stressors of clinical training in six domains was used. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed by content validity and test re- test respectively and Pearson correlation coefficient with (0.8) was performed. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS V.18, Chi-square, t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient.
Results: The mean and standard deviation of total stress was 2.84 ± 0.64 and moderate. The mean scores of stressfulness including unpleasant emotions (3.2±0.75), instructor training method                (3.01 ± 0.79), clinical experience (2.94 ± 0.86), educational planning (2.86 ± 0.65), clinical education environment (2.63 ± 0.7) and interpersonal communication(2.06 ±0.74) respectively, had higher levels of stress. There was a significant relationship between the total stress level perceived with the educational level (p =0.003), academic term (p =0.009), age (p =0.001), and native                      (p =0.004) . Interest in the field of study, marital status, economic problems, anxious personality and stress control skills with mean of perceived stress was not significant.
Conclusion: The stress level of students is moderate and very influenced by the educational level, term, age and native. The most stressful factors related to the conditions that lead to the emergence of unpleasant feelings during clinical education, as well as the method of teaching and communication with the student. Considering Students' emotional feelings and students' preservation for improving the current situation can be effective.