Effectiveness of a Structured Educational Intervention on Healthcare Providers' Knowledge of Paediatric Dehydration...

Background Accurate assessment and management of paediatric dehydration are fundamental to reducing preventable morbidity and mortality associated with acute diarrhoeal disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) guidelines provide standardized recommendations for dehydration assessment and treatment; however, variations in healthcare providers' knowledge may compromise adherence to these evidence-based standards. This audit evaluated the effectiveness of a structured educational intervention in improving healthcare providers' knowledge of paediatric dehydration management. Methods A closed-loop clinical audit was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics at Almanagil Teaching Hospital, Sudan. The first audit cycle was undertaken over two weeks (27 April-10 May 2026) and included 50 healthcare providers. Following identification of baseline deficiencies, a two-week educational programme based on the WHO IMCI guidelines was implemented (11 May-24 May 2026). A second audit cycle was conducted over one month (25 May-24 June 2026) involving 54 healthcare providers using the same standardized questionnaire. Knowledge regarding dehydration classification and WHO management Plans A, B, and C was assessed and compared between audit cycles. Results Significant improvements were observed across all evaluated domains following the educational intervention. Correct identification of severe dehydration increased from 23 (46.0%) to 46 (85.2%) (p < 0.001), while accurate classification of some dehydration improved from 30 (60.0%) to 51 (94.4%) (p < 0.001). Knowledge of appropriate management using WHO Plan A improved from 35 (70.0%) to 51 (94.4%) (p < 0.001), Plan B from 28 (56.0%) to 48 (88.9%) (p < 0.001), and Plan C from 42 (84.0%) to 53 (98.1%) (p = 0.010). Conclusion A structured educational intervention significantly improved healthcare providers' knowledge of paediatric dehydration management according to the WHO IMCI guidelines. Integrating regular educational programmes with repeated closed-loop clinical audits may represent an effective and sustainable strategy for strengthening adherence to evidence-based practice and promoting continuous quality improvement in paediatric healthcare.