Premium
Perceived changes in the knowledge and confidence of doctors and midwives to manage obstetric emergencies following completion of an A dvanced L ife S upport in O bstetrics course in A ustralia
Author(s) -
Walker Laura J.M.,
Fetherston Catherine M.,
M Anne
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/ajo.12110
Subject(s) - medicine , medical emergency
Background The Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics ( ALSO ) course is an internationally recognised interprofessional course to support health professionals to develop and maintain the knowledge and skills to manage obstetric emergencies. Aims This study investigated changes in confidence and perceived changes in the knowledge of doctors and midwives to manage specific obstetric emergency situations following completion of an ALSO course in Australia. Methods A prospective repeated‐measures survey design was used to survey 165 course attendees from four A ustralian states pre‐ and postcourse and at six weeks ( n = 101). Data were analysed using a F riedman two‐way repeated‐measures analysis of variance and the W ilcoxon signed rank test. Results There was a significant improvement in confidence and perceived knowledge of the recommended management of all 17 emergency situations immediately postcourse ( P < 0.001) and at six weeks postcourse ( P < 0.001) when compared to precourse levels for both groups of health professionals. However, a significant decrease in knowledge and confidence for many emergency situations from immediately postcourse to six weeks postcourse ( P < 0.05) was also observed in both groups. Conclusions Completion of the A ustralian ALSO course in A ustralia has a positive effect on the confidence and perceived knowledge of doctors and midwives to manage obstetric emergencies. However, there needs to be some means of reinforcing the effects of the course for longer term maintenance of knowledge and confidence.