A low resource simulation-based training package leads to increased knowledge and skill retention post basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care based training in rural Tanzania, a quasi-experimental research design

Neonatal and Maternal mortality remain alarmingly high in rural areas like Kwimba Tanzania. The Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC) training program aims to decrease these rates by improving healthcare provider knowledge and skill. Literature supports improvement in knowledge and skill immediately after training, but skill decay is reported as early as 1 month if healthcare providers are not afforded further facility-based opportunities to practice. The purpose of this study was to examine a low-cost resource option, a simulation package, for its impact on retention of knowledge and skills over a one-year period. A quasi-experimental research design was used to test a three-component simulation package: (1) 5-day BEmONC based training, (2) low dose high frequency peer to peer simulation practice using peer cards and (3) clinical mentorship. Participants were midwives/nurses, clinical officers, and a medical officer from local hospitals and health centers in Kwimba, Tanzania. Facilities were purposely assigned to one of the two clusters. After initial BEmONC based training, Cluster A was supported component two and three of the package, whereas access these components was delayed until after the 6-month assessment for Cluster B. Knowledge and skill were analyzed using the training program OSCE’s at baseline, post workshop, at 6 months and at 12 months using the r core statistics; p -values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. All participants demonstrated significant knowledge and skill improvements post-initial workshop. At 6 months, Cluster A’s aggregate skill scores were significantly higher than Cluster B, who showed skill decay. At 12 months, aggregate skill scores between Cluster A and Cluster B were similar. There was a significant relationship between clusters receiving component two and three of the simulation package and retention of skill sets at 6 and 12 months. This is the first study to report skill retention at 12 months after BEmONC based training, using peer-to-peer practice in the facility and mentorship visits every 3 months. The inclusion of post training peer learning with simulation equipped practice stations is novel. Together with mentorship visits by regional experts this package may be a low resource educational option to support skill retention.