Tele-education vs classroom training of neonatal resuscitation: a randomized trial.

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To compare gain in knowledge and skills of neonatal resuscitation using tele-education instruction vs conventional classroom teaching. STUDY DESIGN: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in the tele-education facility of a tertiary care center. In-service staff nurses were randomized to receive training by tele-education instruction (TI, n=26) or classroom teaching (CT, n=22) method from two neonatology instructors using a standardized teaching module on neonatal resuscitation. Gain in knowledge and skill scores of neonatal resuscitation were measured using objective assessment methods. RESULT: Age, educational qualification and professional experience of the participants in two groups were comparable. Pre-training mean knowledge scores were higher in TI group (8.3+/-1.7 vs 6.6+/-1.4, P=0.004). However, skill scores were comparable in the two groups (11.7+/-3 vs 10.3+/-2.9, P=0.13). Training resulted in a significant and comparable gain in knowledge scores (4.2+/-2.2 vs 5.3+/-1.7; P=0.06) and skills scores (4.5+/-3.3 vs 5.0+/-3.1, P=0.62) in both the groups. The post-training knowledge scores (TI: 12.5+/-1.7 vs CT: 12.0+/-1.7, P=0.37) and the post-training skill scores (TI: 16.0+/-0.5 vs CT: 15.6+/-2.5, P=0.55) were comparable in the two groups. However, the post-training scores, adjusted for baseline knowledge scores, were statistically higher in the in-person group compared with the telemedicine group (knowledge: 12.46+/-0.03 vs 12.16+/-0.01, P=0.00; skills: 15.6+/-2.5 vs 16.0+/-2.8, P=0.00). The quantum of lower scores in the telemedicine group was only 2% for knowledge and 6% for skills. This difference was felt to be of only marginal importance. Satisfaction scores among trainees and instructors were comparable in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Tele-education offers a feasible and effective alternative to conventional training in neonatal resuscitation among health-care providers.