Powering up front-line heroes with obstetric emergency training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Obstetrics

Background:

• The Obstetric Skills Training for Emergency Team (OBSTET) programme is designed to equip front-line healthcare workers with essential skills for managing obstetric emergencies.
• Effective management of obstetric emergencies is critical for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the experience and outcomes of the OBSTET workshops.
• To assess participant satisfaction with the OBSTET training program.
• To compare the OBSTET program with similar international obstetric emergency training initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, single-centre study analyzed data from 76 participants (doctors and nurses) attending OBSTET workshops between August 2022 and May 2023.
• The 1-day course covered six key obstetric emergencies through interactive drills and lectures.
• Participant knowledge and skills were assessed using pre- and post-course surveys, with data analyzed for significant changes.

Main Results:

• All participants demonstrated significant improvement in all assessed stations post-training (p < 0.001).
• Specific knowledge gains varied between departments, with notable differences between Emergency Department and Anaesthesia groups for Station 5.
• Junior nurses showed greater improvements in knowledge for Stations 3 and 4 compared to senior doctors.

Conclusions:

• The OBSTET training package is effective in enhancing the management of obstetric emergencies among front-line healthcare workers.
• The program contributes to skill development and knowledge improvement, highlighting its value in obstetric care settings.