Safer obstetric anesthesia through education and mentorship: a model for knowledge translation in Rwanda

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anesthesiology
• Global Health

Background:

• High maternal mortality persists in developing nations, particularly in low-resource settings.
• Anesthesia technicians in Rwanda face challenges managing complex obstetric emergencies with limited training and resources.
• Access to continuing education for anesthesia providers in these regions is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate the SAFE (Safer Anesthesia From Education) Obstetric Anesthesia course in Rwanda.
• To describe the application of the knowledge-to-action (KTA) cycle for improving clinical practice.
• To assess the impact of the course on participants' knowledge, skills, and confidence.

Main Methods:

• A three-day SAFE Obstetric Anesthesia refresher course was delivered in Rwanda.
• The course utilized locally relevant curricula and active, experiential learning methods.
• The knowledge-to-action cycle was facilitated through action plans, logbooks, and six-month follow-up interviews.

Main Results:

• Participants reported enhanced clinical practice and increased confidence in managing obstetric anesthesia emergencies.
• The course successfully facilitated the transition of knowledge into clinical practice.
• Challenges included resource limitations and resistance to change from non-participating staff.

Conclusions:

• The SAFE Obstetric Anesthesia course is an effective educational intervention for improving obstetric anesthesia care in low-resource settings.
• The knowledge-to-action cycle framework is valuable for translating educational initiatives into practice.
• Future interventions should incorporate team training to address broader systemic challenges in anesthesia safety.