Assessing competency in neonatal resuscitation among medical students, interns and postgraduate students: a study from a tertiary care hospital in North India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20222272Keywords:
Asphyxia, Competency, Neonatal, ResuscitationAbstract
Background: Birth asphyxia is a leading cause of neonatal mortality in India and many newborns suffer asphyxia due to lack of resuscitation skills among doctors. Fresh medical graduates get posted in the peripheral health centres where they handle all emergencies, including birth asphyxia. The aim of the study was to ascertain competency in neonatal resuscitation among medical students, especially interns who, within the next few months would be handling such babies.
Methods: Final year medical students (30), interns (30), and first and second year pediatrics postgraduate students (9) were included. They were assessed for knowledge by a questionnaire of 15 multiple choice questions (MCQ’s), with a pass percentage of 73% (11/15). Practical skills were assessed by 4 assessors on a manikin using a skills assessment checklist of 11 skill items.
Results: The percentage of medical students, interns and postgraduates passing the theory test was zero, 15% and 33% respectively. In the skills assessment, it was found that bag and mask ventilation, the single most important and effective step in resuscitation was performed by only 17% MBBS students and 20% interns respectively. Though most postgraduates could perform majority of the skills, 44% did drying before suctioning which is a wrong sequence.
Conclusions: Medical students and interns are not competent in neonatal resuscitation. Even postgraduates, in absence of a structured training course are likely to fall short of the desired competency. So, there is an urgent need to train our medical students and interns so that as fresh graduates, they are competent to resuscitate asphyxiated newborns.
Metrics
References
WHO. Guidelines on basic newborn resuscitation. World Health Organization, 2012. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/. Accessed on 08 July 2020.
Kattwinkel J. Textbook of neonatal resuscitation. 6th ed. Dallas: American Heart Association; 2012: 1-37.
Rai S, Kant S, Srivastava R, Gupta P, Misra P, Pandav C, et al. Causes of and contributors to infant mortality in a rural community of North India: evidence from verbal and social autopsy. BMJ Open. 2017:7(8).
Zhang S, Li B, Zhang X, Zhu C, Wang X. Birth asphyxia is associated with increased risk of cerebral palsy: a meta-analysis. Front Neurol. 2020;11:704.
Pammi M, Dempsey E, Ryan C, Barrington K. Newborn resuscitation training programmes reduce early neonatal mortality. Neonatology. 2016;110(3):210-24.
Carlotti A, Ferlin M, Martinez F. Do our newly graduated medical doctors have adequate knowledge about neonatal resuscitation? Sao Paulo Med J. 2007;125(3):180-5.
Afzal M, Afzal M, Sultan M, Hanif A. Evaluation of performance of basic life support and clinical skills among interns in Mayo and Allied hospitals of King Edward Medical University, Lahore. Pak J Med Sci. 2012;51(4):117-9.
Murila F, Obimbo MM, Musoke R. Assessment of knowledge on neonatal resuscitation amongst health care providers in Kenya. Pan Afr Med J. 2012;11:78.
Buss P, McCabe M, Evans R, Davies A, Jenkins H. A survey of basic resuscitation knowledge among resident paediatricians. Arch Dis Child. 1993;68(1):75-8.
Duran R, Aladağ N, Vatansever Ü, Küçükuğurluoğlu Y, Süt N, Acunaş B. Proficiency and knowledge gained and retained by pediatric residents after neonatal resuscitation course. Pediatr Int. 2008;50(5):644-7.
Patel J, Posencheg M, Ades A. Proficiency and retention of neonatal resuscitation skills by pediatric residents. Pediatrics. 2012;130(3):515-21.
Shikuku D, Milimo B, Ayebare E, Gisore P, Nalwadda G. Practice and outcomes of neonatal resuscitation for newborns with birth asphyxia at Kakamega County General Hospital, Kenya: a direct observation study. BMC Pediatr. 2018;18(1).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
