Retention of Skills in Neonatal Resuscitation

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of a neonatal resuscitation course on the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of birthing room personnel, and to evaluate the performance of skills at different times after the course.

Design: A program evaluation using a before and after cohort study.

Setting: Seven level II perinatal centres in the central-east region of Ontario.

Participants: Seven hundred thirty-seven individuals (medical staff, nurses and respiratory technologists) who worked in birthing rooms.

Intervention: During an eight-month period, a course in neonatal resuscitation was presented at the perinatal centres. A cohort of 108 (15%) participants received testing before and after the course; the theoretical knowledge and practical performance of 62 of these participants were retested after six and 12 months.

Results: A significant improvement in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills was seen immediately after the course. Throughout the study, no difference was observed in the performance of nursing staff compared with that of medical staff, nor among the institutions involved. No significant difference in the decline of either theoretical knowledge or practical skills was seen among those who scored well in the original pre-test compared with those who scored poorly.

Conclusions: Neonatal resuscitation should be an integral part of continuing education for all personnel involved in obstetrical care because it improves both tested knowledge and performance. Practical skills appear to decline faster than theoretical knowledge. Inservice instruction is required, at least, every six months.