NCT03290924

Accelerating Newborn Survival in Ghana Through a Low-dose, High-frequency Health Worker Training Approach

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: Jhpiego · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study assesses the effect of a low-dose, high-frequency training approach on long-term evidence-based skill retention among skilled birth attendants and impact on adverse birth outcomes at hospitals in Ghana.

Detailed description

In-service training for skilled birth attendants (SBAs) is one of the most common interventions to address lack of knowledge and skills. However, these training interventions are seldom evaluated for effectiveness in improving learning or performance. This study study is a cluster-randomized waitlist trial implemented in 40 public and mission hospitals in Ghana. It assesses the effect of a low-dose, high-frequency (LDHF) training approach to update hospital-based SBAs in key evidence-based intrapartum and immediate newborn care practices, using current global guidelines.The LDHF approach includes two 4-day onsite sessions (low dose) with weekly practice sessions, SMS quizzes and reminders, and mentoring via mobile phone and onsite visits between trainings (high frequency). The low-dose sessions include competency acquisition through simulation, case-based learning, and small content packages spread over short time intervals. Eligible hospitals will be stratified by geographic region and caseload, and then randomly assigned to one of four implementation waves. The pipeline randomization allows for rigorous evaluation while the program is rolled out to all facilities.

Conditions

• Stillbirth
• Neonatal Death

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Low dose high frequency health worker training approach	* Two 4-day training sessions for skilled birth attendants * 1-day peer practice coordinator training after first training session * Weekly, peer-led practice sessions using MamaNatalie® and NeoNatalie™ anatomic models * SMS reminder messages and quizzes * Routine telephone calls between master mentors and peer practice coordinators, and between project staff and master mentors * Health information officer training * Data collection and use training * Supply of simulators, newborn resuscitation equipment, and delivery sets
BEHAVIORAL	Active Comparison	Training on data collection and reporting

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-09-01
• Primary completion: 2017-02-28
• Completion: 2017-02-28
• First posted: 2017-09-25
• Last updated: 2017-09-25