change in trainee physicians' knowledge and comfort levels with obstetric emergencies following ALSO training

ABSTRACT

The Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics [ALSO] is a course in emergency obstetrics to help physicians and other health care providers develop and maintain the knowledge and skills to effectively manage potential obstetric emergencies. This course was held for the first time in Pakistan at the Aga Khan University in September 2003. This study was conducted to evaluate the improvement in knowledge and comfort level of physicians-in-training [interns, family medicine, obstetric and emergency room residents] in dealing with emergency obstetrics after undergoing the course. After informed consent, study subjects were administered a written test and asked to complete a questionnaire 10 days before and immediately after taking the ALSO course. Level of comfort in handling obstetric emergencies was assessed using a three-point Likert scale. A total of 38 trainees participated in pretest, ALSO course and subsequent post-test. Eleven were males and 27 were females. The comparison of the pre-test and post test showed a significant increase in the knowledge. The mean difference between the scores was 24 and the paired t-test done showed there was a highly significant difference between the scores [t=18.8, p= <0.001]. There was also a significant improvement in the comfort level for handling emergency obstetrics. Following the ALSO course all participants said they would recommend the course to others. The ALSO course is a valuable teaching intervention that improves not only knowledge but also perceived comfort levels of emergency obstetrics among interns and residents in a developing country