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Shoulder dystocia training using a new birth training mannequin
Joanna F Crofts1, Georgios Attilakos, Mike Read
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
Summary
Training with a shoulder dystocia mannequin improved management skills. While not statistically significant, the drills reduced delivery time and force, preventing potentially harmful levels of force application during birth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Medical Simulation
- Patient Safety
Background:
- Shoulder dystocia 'skill drills' are mandated by Maternity CNST standards.
- Current evidence is lacking on whether shoulder dystocia training improves patient outcomes.
- Effective training methods are needed to manage shoulder dystocia complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel mannequin for shoulder dystocia training.
- To assess the impact of mannequin-based training on obstetric provider performance.
- To determine if training reduces critical metrics like head-to-body delivery duration and applied force.
Main Methods:
- Development of a specialized mannequin for simulating shoulder dystocia scenarios.
- Implementation of 'skill drills' using the mannequin for healthcare providers.
- Measurement of head-to-body delivery duration and maximum applied force before and after training.
Main Results:
- Shoulder dystocia management performance showed improvement after mannequin training.
- A reduction in head-to-body delivery duration was observed post-training.
- The maximum applied delivery force decreased after training, with no subject exceeding 100 N.
- Reductions in duration and force did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusions:
- Mannequin-based skill drills appear to enhance shoulder dystocia management.
- Training may help providers avoid excessive force application, mitigating fetal injury risk.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm statistical significance and clinical impact.