Enhancing professional outcome in nursing and midwifery: A systematic review of competency-based education’s impact on performance, self-confidence and anxiety reduction

Clinical skills refresher courses focusing on competence are essential for enhancing the clinical performance of healthcare providers. These courses play a pivotal role in nursing and midwifery education, offering students initial exposure to clinical environments and preparing them for subsequent internships. This systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of clinical skills refresher courses on clinical performance, particularly focusing on competency-based supplementary clinical skills courses. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across articles published in the last 15 years, utilizing PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases with specific keywords. This extensive search yielded 1,751 records, of which 13 were selected based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these, 5 studies examined the effect of competency-based education (CBE) on the quality of clinical skills, 5 studies assessed clinical skills in detail, and 3 studies discussed other variables related to nursing skills, such as anxiety. The results indicate that CBE significantly enhances clinical skills and self-efficacy among nursing students, addressing gaps in practical training and psychological readiness for clinical internships. This review recommends the implementation of well-organized competency-based training courses in nursing and midwifery education. By bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience, this approach equips nurses and midwives to effectively address contemporary healthcare challenges, ultimately improving patient outcomes, enhancing professional confidence and ensuring adherence to healthcare standards.