LONG TERM RETENTION OF KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE AMONG NON-INTESIVIST PROVIDERS AFTER A CRITICAL CARE SIMULATION TRAINING OF ALSO COURSE

Introduction and Objective: In low-resource settings, primary care providers are responsible for extremely sick pregnant women and their transfer to higher level facilities. The aim of this study was to measure the level of knowledge and confidence before, and long-term after an Advanced Life Support in Obstetric (ALSO) simulation-based pilot training in critical care in order to understand the impact of training on these components in primary care providers. • Methods: An educational intervention study was carried out in 2015 in Colombia, Uruguay and Guatemala. Ninety healthcare workers of different cadres were trained in “critical care obstetrics”, which addresses basic critical care concepts including: acid-base balance, interpretation of blood gases, and successful transition from primary care to intensive care. Knowledge, and confidence were tested in three groups: group one: before; group two: three to six months after; and group three: six months to one year after training. Knowledge and confidence were tested by completing a web 30-item multiple-choice questionnaire. • Results y Conclusions: Mean knowledge scores increased after training from 53.8 % to 67.8 %, but decreased slightly (61,0 %) close to 12 months follow-up. The mean score in teamwork and successful transition from primary care to intensive care showed the most significant increase after training from 44.3% to 67.0%. Confidence increased after training, and was largely retained at long term follow-up. This pilot training resulted in a long-term increase in knowledge, and confidence. Knowledge in some areas decayed after long-term follow-up, however, in some new and difficult topics were largely retained.