Effect of continuous workshop training of the helping babies breathe program on the retention of midwives' knowledge and skills: A clinical trial study

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the impact of ongoing workshop training of the "Helping Babies Breathe" program on the durability of midwives' knowledge and skills.

Background: Implementing the Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) program is crucial as a simple protocol for neonatal resuscitation in low-resource healthcare settings to decrease the rate of asphyxia and perinatal mortality by the initial healthcare providers. In addition to training in this program, it is also essential to guarantee the retention of the acquired knowledge and skills.

Design: A quasi-experimental clinical trial study with a single-group, pre-test-and-post-test design.

Methods: This study was conducted throughout the year 2022, with a sample size of 61 midwives selected through a census sampling from those working in the delivery and operating rooms of X Hospital in x City. The midwives participated in 3-hour workshops. This study was performed in two stages: intervention and follow-up. The evaluation Instruments included the HBB educational package, which consisted of a questionnaire and 3 Objective Structured Clinical Exams. During the intervention phase, the HBB program training was conducted through a series of workshops held at four different time points over a span of six months. In the follow-up stage, the learners were not provided with any further training. The evaluation was done immediately after the initial training workshop of the HBB program, at the end of the final workshop in the sixth month and at the end of the follow-up period.

Results: The mean knowledge score of the baseline, at six months and at twelve months after the initial workshop were documented as (17 SD1.2), (17.79 SD 0.4) and (17.73 SD 0.5), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean knowledge scores between the baseline and the six and twelve months (P<0.05), but no statistically significant difference was observed between six and twelve months (P>0.05). The mean skill scores showed a significant improvement and were maintained after six months compared with the initial assessment (P<0.05); however, there was a significant decrease in skill score twelve months later, in comparison to both the initial assessment and the first six months (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Healthcare workers can maintain their knowledge and skills by participating in ongoing training workshops. However, without continuous training, their skills may diminish. Therefore, it is essential to implement training programs that emphasize regular practice and repetition to ensure knowledge and skills retention.

Registration number: The present research was a part of the research work with the ethics ID IR.IRSHUMS.REC.1400.019.

Keywords: Continuing education; Helping babies breathe; Knowledge; Learning; Midwifery; Newborn; Resuscitation.