Simulation-Based Outreach Program Improves Rural Hospitals' Team Confidence in Neonatal Resuscitation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Neonatal Care
• Simulation Training

Background:

• Rural hospitals face challenges in maintaining neonatal resuscitation skills due to low birth rates and limited resources.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) skills require regular practice, which is difficult in low-volume settings.
• In situ simulation offers a potential solution for skills maintenance in resource-limited rural environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of in situ neonatal resuscitation simulation training on rural delivery teams' confidence.
• To assess the correlation between confidence and actual performance based on NRP guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design was used with pre- and post-training surveys at five rural hospitals.
• Delivery room teams rated their confidence in NRP skills using a five-point Likert scale.
• Simulation performance was measured by adherence to NRP guidelines using a validated scoring tool.

Main Results:

• Confidence significantly improved in airway management, emergency IV access, and code management (p<0.05).
• Participants reported increased confidence in their team members' resuscitation knowledge and skills.
• Performance adherence scores, however, often remained in the sub-optimal range.

Conclusions:

• In situ neonatal resuscitation simulation effectively enhances rural delivery team self-confidence.
• Translating improved confidence into optimal skill performance requires further investigation.
• Outreach simulation programs can be valuable for improving neonatal resuscitation preparedness in underserved areas.