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. 2023 Nov 15;23(Suppl 2):565.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-023-04373-8.

Using interprofessional education to build dynamic teams to help drive collaborative, coordinated and effective newborn care

Josephine Langton  1 , Sara Liaghati-Mobarhan  2 , Edith Gicheha  2 , Jennifer Werdenberg-Hall  3 , June Madete  4 , George Banda  5 , Elizabeth M Molyneux  6 ; NEST360 Education Team
Collaborators, Affiliations

Using interprofessional education to build dynamic teams to help drive collaborative, coordinated and effective newborn care

Josephine Langton et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: As countries strive to achieve sustainable development goal 3.2, high-quality medical education is crucial for high-quality neonatal care. Women are encouraged to deliver in health units attended by a skilled team. Traditionally, the team is doctors and nurses, but they are members of a large group of interdependent experts from other disciplines. Each discipline trains separately, yet the goal of good neonatal care is common to all. The use of interprofessional education breaks down these professional silos improving collaborative practice and promoting excellent clinical care. Introduction of new educational materials and training requires a rigorous approach to ensure sustainability.

Methods: An extensive needs assessment identified gaps in neonatal training. Specifically, there was a lack of inclusion of medical devices used in clinical care. In each country, national key stakeholders came together to develop and revise their own neonatal curricula, trainings or guidelines. A core writing education team were tasked to develop evidence-based materials on pertinent medical devices to include in these national materials. These then underwent internal and external review. A provider course for biomedical engineers and technicians was introduced. Skills labs were established to improve practical skills teaching. To improve the quality of teaching, a NEST360 generic instructors course (GIC) was developed.

Results: Twenty modules, 14 scenarios, 17 job aids and 34 videos have been published to date. Materials have been embedded into neonatal curricula and national trainings. Forty-one skills labs were installed in pre-service learning institutions and, up to June 2022, have been used by 7281 students. Pre- and in-service interprofessional training was implemented at all NEST360 institutions (clinical and biomedical). GIC courses were conducted at least twice a year in all countries. Three hundred seventeen nurses, biomedical and clinical staff have undertaken the GIC in all four countries. GIC participants report that the course has very positively influenced their teaching practice.

Conclusions: Inclusion of key stakeholders throughout has ensured training is embedded within the four countries. Use of interprofessional education and inclusion of biomedical engineers and technicians has been very successful. Introduction of the GIC has developed a pool of high-quality educators for neonatal care. This approach has ensured that high-quality interprofessional neonatal training is included within national agendas for neonatal care and beyond.

Keywords: Biomedical; Clinical; Interprofessional Learning; Sustainable Teaching Materials.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. EMM holds a small portion of the intellectual property patent (Patent US 2015/0258291 A1) for a CPAP device on behalf of the University of Malawi College of Medicine (COM)/Kamuzu University of Health Science (KUHeS). MO and RRK are inventors of a bCPAP device (Patent US 2015/0258291 A1) and bilirubinometer device that have been licensed to 3SD; the devices are licensed at 0% royalty in GAVI-eligible countries, and the inventor’s share of all royalties have been donated to Rice University.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The steps taken in developing NESTEd teaching materials
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The role and place for a skills lab in a training institution
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Number and types of devices installed in skills labs
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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