Psychosocial Effects of Empathy-Based Midwifery Education on Midwifery Students and Pregnant Women

This two-stage quasi-experimental study will evaluate the effects of empathy-based midwifery education on midwifery students\' empathy and anxiety, and on women\'s satisfaction with childbirth and perceptions of traumatic birth. In the first stage, third-year midwifery students in the intervention group will receive four face-to-face training sessions over two weeks, totaling 390 minutes. The program will include theoretical instruction, case discussions, role-play, virtual reality activities, mannequin-based simulation, and guided reflection. Students in the control group will continue their usual coursework and clinical practice. Students\' empathy and anxiety will be assessed before and after the training. In the second stage, trained students will provide empathetic communication and psychosocial support to women during labor under the supervision of a faculty member and/or the responsible midwife. Support will include active listening, clear information, reassurance, respect for privacy, and assistance with coping during labor. Women in the control group will receive routine maternity care. Maternal satisfaction with childbirth and perceptions of traumatic birth will be assessed after birth, once the mother and newborn are clinically stable. The study will examine whether this educational program improves students\' empathy, reduces their anxiety, and contributes to more positive childbirth experiences for women.