Comparing hands-on and video training for postpartum hemorrhage management

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Global Health

Background:

• Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains a leading cause of maternal mortality globally.
• Effective PPH management training is crucial, especially in resource-limited settings.
• Conventional training methods face challenges in reaching rural healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of interactive hands-on training versus non-interactive video training for PPH management.
• To evaluate the feasibility of mobile media-based training for healthcare professionals in Kenya.

Main Methods:

• A controlled intervention study was conducted at a secondary healthcare center in Kenya.
• Participants were trained using either hands-on or video methods based on the Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics curriculum.
• Performance was assessed using structured observation of a standardized PPH scenario before and after training.

Main Results:

• Both hands-on and video training groups demonstrated significant improvements in performance scores and pass rates.
• Hands-on training improved performance scores by 40% (95% CI 29.5-47.0).
• Video training improved performance scores by 34.5% (95% CI 25.0-42.0).
• No significant differences in performance scores or pass rates were observed between the two training methods.

Conclusions:

• Mobile media-based PPH management training can be as effective as traditional hands-on training.
• Video training presents a feasible and effective strategy to bridge the healthcare training outreach gap in rural sub-Saharan Africa.
• This approach can enhance the management of PPH in hard-to-reach peripheral health facilities.