Effect of a scaled-up quality improvement intervention on health workers’ competence on neonatal resuscitation in simulated settings in public hospitals: A pre-post study in Nepal

Abstract

Background Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) training improves bag and mask ventilation and reduces neonatal mortality and fresh stillbirths. Quality improvement (QI) interventions can improve retention of neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a scaled-up QI intervention package on uptake and retention of neonatal resuscitation knowledge and skills in simulated settings. Methods This was a pre-post study in 12 public hospitals of Nepal. Knowledge and skills of trainees on neonatal resuscitation were evaluated against the set standard before and after the introduction of QI interventions. Results Altogether 380 participants were included for knowledge evaluation and 286 for skill evaluation. The overall knowledge test score increased from 14.12 (pre-basic) to 15.91 (post-basic) during basic training (p < 0.001). The knowledge score decreased over time; 15.91 (post-basic) vs. 15.33 (pre-refresher) (p < 0.001). Overall skill score during basic training (16.98 ± 1.79) deteriorated over time to 16.44 ± 1.99 during refresher training (p < 0.001). The proportion of trainees passing the knowledge test increased to 91.1% (post-basic) from 67.9% (pre-basic) which decreased to 86.6% during refresher training after six months. The knowledge and skill scores were maintained above the set standard (>14.0) over time at all hospitals during refresher training. Conclusion HBB training together with QI tools improves health workers’ knowledge and skills on neonatal resuscitation, irrespective of size and type of hospitals. The knowledge and skills deteriorate over time but do not fall below the standard. The HBB training together with QI interventions can be scaled up in other public hospitals.