Search results for “Nurses

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16 articles

Assessment of Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes, And Willingness Towards Organ Donation: A Cross- Sectional Study at Tibebe-Ghion Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2023

Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-5835.jcpn-25-5939

Objective To assess knowledge, attitude and willingness towards organ donation of nurses in Tibebe-Ghion Specialized Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 2023. Method A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 1 to May 30, 2023, using a census of all eligible nurses (N=215). Data were collected with a structured questionnaire adapted from validated tools. Binary logistics regression was used to identify factors associated with willingness to donate, with results presented as adjusted odds ratios with 95% confident intervals. Results The overall response rate of this study was 98% (n=206). The mean age was 29.5 (±4.8) years, and 55.8% were male. Overall, 61.7% (95% CI: 54.9-68.5) of nurses had good knowledge, and 45.6% (95% CI: 38.8-52.5) had a favorable attitude. In multivariable analysis, female sex (AOR=3.50, 95% CI: 1.18-3.92, p<0.001) and greater years of experience (AOR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.18-3.92, p=0.012) were independent predictors of willingness. Conclusion While a majority of nurses were willing to donate organs, significant gaps in knowledge and legal awareness persist. Female nurses and those with more experience were more willing to donate. Targeted educational interventions are recommended to address knowledge deficits and foster a more supportive environment for organ donation advocacy.

Human Psychology Open Access

Perspectives of Workplace Incivility and Nurses Intent to Quit: Investigations Examined

Mar 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2644-1101.jhp-21-4037

The connection between the nurse employee’s apparent degree of work environment incivility and their expectation to stop their individual associations has been upheld by research for far over 10 years. Placed contentions have additionally analyzed a distinction in nurses' view of work environment incivility considering the kind of working environment (i.e., regardless of whether a public or private healthcare practice), considering the impression of existing working environment incivility and aim to stop employment, separately. The reason for such survey of writings is not just to decide the degree to which work environment incivility influences a nurses' plan to stop employment, yet more so to make for all viewpoints being additionally featured. Additional exploration on working environment incivility, remains continuous, with its related contributory elements, and the impacts on the examined relationships. New research on working environment incivility has critical ramifications for nurses, patients, healthcare services and associations were generally investigated 14569151718232427282943445868697172. Work environment incivility displays lack of respect, negligence or discourteousness that has formed into a combined issue, proved by irritating unfavorable consequences for human resources, and the adverse consequence on the association 78.

Human Health Research Open Access

Oncopunt, a Video-Portal to Improve Oncological Skills of Home Care Nurses: Usability, User-Experience and Added Value for Clinical Practice

Dec 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9383.jhhr-17-1811

Homecare is very important in oncology care since cancer patients are discharged more and more earlier from the hospital and receiving ambulatory treatments. Homecare nurses have a more general broad educational background, with less specialization regarding specific care, like oncology care. The aim of this study is to develop and test a cross-platform application (named Oncopunt) for homecare nurses involved in oncology care to provide specific nurse-centred information via digital media about skill guidelines specific for oncology care. This study was set-up as a non-experimental feasibility and satisfaction study with one measurement moment to collect information about usability, user-experience and added value of Oncopunt using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and an additional questionnaire. The cross-platform application Oncopunt was build using Drupal and Vimeo and consists of a homescreen, filter/search function and watch-function (full video panel, chapter panel and FAQ). Seventeen homecare nurses completed all questionnaires. The mean SUS score was 83,8 (stdev 11,6) and Oncopunt was rated positively regarding video content, technical issues, website layout, quality of care and user satisfaction. Oncopunt is developed to provide homecare nurses specific nurse-centred information about skills specific for oncology care via digital media . It was rated good on usability, user-experiences and added value for clinical practice.

Relationships Between the Level of Social Competence and Work-Related Behaviors in a Group of Physicians, Nurses, and Paramedics

Aug 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-612X.ijpr-17-1634

The functioning of medical professionals in their work environment is determined by many factors, among them social competence. The Aim of this Study was toanalyze how social competence is related to behaviors and experiences in the context of burnout syndrome, experienced by physicians, nurses, and paramedics in Poland with regard to sociodemographic factors. Methods. The study was conducted in 2015-2016. It involved 432 medical workers, including 29.7% physicians, 36.96% nurses, and 33.3% paramedics. The median age was 38.00. Over half (38.9%) of those surveyed were employed in hospitals, 6.9% in primary care centers, 18.3% in emergency ambulance service. The Social Competence Questionnaire (SCQ), the Work-Related Behaviour and Experience Patterns - AVEM questionnaire, and a self-developed questionnaire were applied. Results. Symptoms of burnout syndrome (Type B and A) were observed in one-fourth of medical workers. 31.8% of all participants presented Type G (p < 0.0001). Behavior types prevailing in particular groups were as follows: paramedics ― Type G and Type S; physicians ― Type A and Type B, and nurses ― Type B and Type G. The general competence level correlated with Type G (p = 0.05), and I competence correlated negatively with Type B (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The problem of burnout syndrome, diagnosed on the basis of work-related behaviors and experiences, is weighty and requires implementation of holistic therapeutic and prophylactic solutions addressed to healthcare professionals. Competence in intimate and social exposure situations, as well as competence in situations requiring assertiveness significantly protect medical workers against burnout syndrome.

Turnover of Registered Nurses in Israeli Hospitals: A Secondary Analysis from a National Survey

Aug 2017

Aim: To assess the extent and directions of internal hospital turnover of registered nurses and to examine the associated factors and stressors. Background: Internal turnover of hospital nurses is mainly horizontal. Occurring on a large scale, it could lead to dropout of skilled personnel, burdening hospitals both financially and in terms of human resources, affecting the quality of care. Methods: A secondary analysis based on data from the national study on "Patterns and trends of the nursing workforce in Israel". A structured telephone interview was conducted of 2,098 hospital nurses (October 2008-February 2009). Results: The rate of internal turnover between hospital departments was 29.7%. The main departments from which nurses moved were medical and surgical. The main departments from which nurses moved were oncology departments, Intensive Care Units, nursing administration. The major work-related stressor concerned salary (59%), two predictors of internal turnover were nurses with children under the age of 18 and academic degree nurses. Conclusions and Implications for Health Policy: Internal turnover rate in Israeli hospitals is moderate, with high rates in medical and surgical departments. It is vital to identify the main factors associated with high turnover rates and implement focused managerial retention strategies and other intervention programs.

Nurses Working with Unlicensed Assistive Personnel: A Phenomenological Study

Jun 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.3070-5835.jcpn-17-1580

Objective. To describe the attitudes and behavior of registered nurses in their professional interaction toward unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) and to identify areas to develop policy for an effective nursing development and workforce planning. Background: One of the challenges health care systems have been addressing is the integration of the UAPs into the nursing care delivery systems. Study Design: Aphenomenological study involving registered nurses, staff and managerial positions. Data were collected using an in-depth semi-structured interview. Findings: Nurses report an increased task management workload which may lead to a decline in the quality of nursing care. Structural factors that are related to nurses and to UAPs were mentioned as affecting the quality of their professional and collaborative interaction. Conclusions: Training nurses to work with UAPs while developing their communication and managerial skills may improve the quality of care and increase their level of satisfaction.

Prevalence of Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Among Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare Staff in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Zambia

Nov 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2693-1176.ijgh-25-5745

Background Healthcare worker stress, anxiety, burnout, and trauma have been widely documented across global healthcare systems. Staff in maternal and neonatal units frequently encounter emotionally distressing events and work under high pressure with limited resources. In Zambia, despite some gains in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, fatality rates remain above national targets, exposing staff to repeated occupational trauma. Objective(s) This study aimed to assess the psychological well-being of staff in maternal and neonatal intensive care units, identify specific needs and stressors, and develop practical recommendations to improve resilience and support staff mental health. Methods A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted at Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) and Arthur Davison Children's Hospital (ADCH), two major tertiary hospitals in Zambia. Data were collected over four days in February 2025. The study included 87 (out of 161) healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives, and doctors. The Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS) and the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 (ProQOL 5) were used to collect quantitative data, which were analysed using descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Open-ended survey questions provided qualitative data, which were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical approval was granted by the hospital ethics committee. Results High rates of clinical symptoms were observed. The overall prevalence of symptoms in the past 30 days was: anxiety (62%), depression (68%), burnout (50%), and secondary traumatic stress (46%). Junior doctors demonstrated the highest rates of depression (83%) and burnout (67%). The obstetrics and gynaecology and labour wards had the highest rates of secondary traumatic stress symptoms. Key qualitative themes identified were professional stressors, team and leadership issues, and the emotional burden of the work. Conclusion This study highlights an urgent need for both psychological and organizational support for maternal and neonatal healthcare staff in Zambia. The findings indicate that burnout and secondary traumatic stress are highly prevalent, particularly among junior doctors and those in high-risk wards. Targeted interventions at both systemic and individual levels are necessary to protect the well-being of healthcare workers and improve patient outcomes.

Risk Management: Emerging critical issues during the hospital administration of drug therapy

Feb 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-23-4452

Interruptions during pharmacological therapy in a hospital ward can be a source of error. We therefore considered two Operating Units of a hospital by asking the following questions: are the nursing staff who administer drug therapy at the set times able to do so with maximum concentration and without interruptions? If yes, how? If not, why and what for? Furthermore, are there organizational and non-organizational improvement strategies so that nurses are less interrupted during therapy and therefore do not cause adverse drug events that could cause harm to the patient? The results that emerged from the data analysis make us reflect considerably on how much interruptions during therapy are to be paid attention to as a problem to which solution proposals can be found.

Community Health Needs Assessment in Urban Communities in Kigali City In Rwanda: A Cluster-Randomized Trial

May 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-21-3632

Introduction Reporting of suspected or confirmed communicable diseases is paramount. Although physicians have primary responsibility for reporting, school nurses, laboratory directors, infection control practitioners, daycare center directors, health care facilities, state institutions and any other individuals providing health care services are also required to report communicable disease. Therefore, community health needs assessment in urban communities remains an essential instrument for the rapid and accurate dissemination of epidemiological information on cases and outbreaks of diseases under the national health regulations and other communicable diseases of public health importance, including emerging or re-emerging infections. Purpose of the Study Todescribe relevant medical needs of townspeople so that treatment plans can be developed accordingly. Methods The Study was a cross-sectional with qualitative approach. In-depth interviews and focus group interviews was used as research technique. Data was categorized to look for emerging themes then further distilled to identify any abstract themes that could be understood holistically. Results Urban decision-makers need to advocate the problem of human resources in public health facilities and the mutual health insurance to revise its insurance policy to allow their clients to be received even in private clinics. Dental services was wished to be available in public health centers. Study participants suggested that new useful information could be posted in private public premises rather than to be in public institutions only. Conclusion The patient waiting time, dental services in health centers, and the way of dissemination new health information, mutual health insurance and insufficient human resources are the major concerns of townspeople that they wish improvement.

Knowledge and Practice for Bio-Medical Waste Management among Healthcare Personnel at Kabgayi District Hospital, Rwanda

Sep 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-19-3005

Background Globally, about 10 to 25% of the volume of bio-medical waste from hospitals and healthcare institutions presents a serious health risks to patients, healthcare personnel, and anybody who comes in contact with it. The waste management practices in Rwanda healthcare facilities are poor and need improvement. Objectives To assess the knowledge and practices regarding bio-medical waste management among healthcare personnel at Kabgayi district hospital in Southern Province of Rwanda. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study design was conducted. A total of 200 healthcare personnel were selected randomly out of 400 target population including doctors, nurses, social workers, and cleaners. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive analysis using frequency and proportions were used. Chi-Square test was used to determine the association between the variables and level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results The study found that about half (49.0%) of healthcare personnel had good knowledge about waste management. We found that the majority of healthcare personel 133(66.5%) had poor practices towards bio-medical waste management. The factors associated with good practice were better knowledge on bio-medical waste management (p=0.013) and older age group (p=0.001). Conclusion/Recommendations The level of in both knowledge and practice towards bio-medical waste management among healthcare personnel was low. Continuing education and training programmes and short courses on bio-medical waste management should be carried out to improve the knowledge and practices towards bio-medical waste management among healthcare personnel.

Affiliate Stigma and Compassion Satisfaction Amongst Mental Health Service Providers at A Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Nigeria

Jun 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-9273.jbtm-19-2854

Objective Just like their patients, mental health service providers also face stigma. Internalisation of these negative stereotypes could lead to the development of affiliate stigma, reduce their compassion satisfactionand reduce their effectiveness in delivering quality health care to their patients. This study investigated the relationships between affiliate stigma and compassion satisfaction in frontline mental health service providers in a mental health facility in Nigeria. Method This was a cross-sectional study which recruited 183 mental health service providers working in a mental health facility in Nigeria, and who completed questionnaires on affiliate stigma and compassion satisfaction. Results Affiliate stigma among mental health service providers in this study was relatively high (41.5%), and psychiatrists were significantly more likely A to report higher levels of affiliate stigma compared to the psychiatric nurses (p=0.03, OR=0.38,95% CI=0.15 – 0.94). Psychiatrists and Psychiatric nurses who worked for longer hours (> 42 hours per week) reported significantly lower Affiliate stigma (t=2.148, df=28, p=0.04; t=2.118, df=135, p=0.04 respectively). Psychiatrists with high levels of affiliate stigma were more likely to have lower compassion satisfaction, but this was not true of Psychiatric nurses. Mental health service providers who endorse the psychosocial aetiology of mental illness, are significantly more likely to report having experienced high affiliate stigma (F=3.980, df=2, p=0.03). Conclusion The levels of affiliate stigma among mental health service providers in this study was relatively high, particularly among the professional group of psychiatrists. There is an urgent need to address internalization of negative stereotypes among mental health service providers in order to prevent experiences of discrimination among their patients.

Successful Cascade of Care and Cure HCV in 5382 Drugs Users: How Increase HCV Treatment by Outreach Care, Since Screening to Treatment

May 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2574-4526.jddd-19-2770

Introduction In France 33% of patients didn’t take care of hepatitis C because there were no diagnosed. Drug injection was main contamination route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in France. French guidelines were to treat all inmates and drug users, even fibrosis level. Access of HCV screening, care and treatment in drugs users, prisoners and homeless was low in France. They were considered as difficult to treat populations. All these patients need specific support. Hepatitis Mobile Team (HMT) was created in July 2013 to increase screening care and treatment of hepatitis B and C patients. HMT was composed of hepatologist, nurses, social workers and health care worker. Objective increase outreach screening care treatment access and cure of our target population. Patients and methods Target population was drugs users, prisoners, homeless, precarious people, migrants and psychiatric patients. We proposed part or all of our services to our 42 medical and social partners: HCV HBV screening by DBS (dried blood test); outside DBS and FIBROSCAN in converted van; Outreach open center; Drug users information and prevention, Free blood tests in primary care;, Staff training; Social screening and diagnosis; Mobile liver stiffness Fibroscan in site; Advanced on-site specialist consultation; Easy access to pre-treatment commission; Low cost mobile phones for patients; Individual psycho-educative intervention sessions; Collective educative workshops; Peer to peer educational program; Specific one day hospitalizations. All services were free for patients and for partners. Results from 2013 July to 2018 December, we did 8382 DBS for 5382 people (3053 HCV DBS) and 2302 Fibroscan*. HCV new positive rate was 21.3%. Our HCV active file was 651patients included these 24.8% new patients screened by DBS; 98% realized HCV genotype, HCV viral load and FIBROSCAN. DAA treatment was proposed to 96%; 95% started treatment, 4% were lost follow up or refused treatment. After treatment, there was 7 relapse and 3 reinfections by drug injection and cured rate of 94%. Sociological evaluation showed that 4 program qualities for patients: free access, closeness (outside hospital), speed (of the results) and availability (of nurse and social workers). Conclusions:  Specific follow-up of drugs users and other HCV high-risk patients including screening, early detection, diagnosis and treatment increase rate of treated and cured patients, with low rate of relapse and reinfections.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Healthcare Workers Towards Availability of Antiretroviral Pre-Exposure Prohylaxis in Nigeria

Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-18-2333

Introduction: The introduction of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against incident HIV infection has changed the epidemiology of disease as continuous treatment with tenofovir and emtricitabine among high risk groups can reduce the relative risk for incident HIV infection by over 90%.However,despite the approved use of TDF+FTC, as a fixed dose combination of emtricitabine 200 mg and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg, for oral PrEP since 2012 , it does not appear to have become widely accepted and in use among healthcare workers especially those in low income countries. Researches are therefore needed to consider the awareness and practice of health workers towards the availability of PrEP services in this part of the world. Healthcare workers are expected to be promoters of the use of PrEP services. Method: A cross sectional questionnaire-based study conducted in southern Nigerian over a 6 months period. Data were collected from 250 healthcare workers using interviewer-administered questionnaires. The data analysis was done using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) for windows version 20.0 software (SPSS Inc; Chicago, IL, USA). Frequency counts were generated for all variables and statistical test of significance was performed with chi-square test. Significance was fixed at P < 0.05 and highly significance if P < 0.01. Results: A high proportion of the respondents(>60%) were highly educated healthcare workers(majorly Nurses and medical doctors) and about half (55%) having at least 10yrs working experience in the health sector with most especially on the HIV program(>90%), majority (94%) of the health workers were aware about ARV pre-exposure prophylaxis but very few ( 6% )could give the standard definition for PrEP as the use of ARV drugs by HIV negative persons to prevent the acquisition of HIV.Most(67%) of them gave wrong definition for PrEP and worse still about one fifth (20%) had no idea what PrEP was all about. Most (70%) could not correctly identify all the ARV drugs in a standard PrEP regimen while about 35% had no idea at all of the approved ARVs used for PrEP. Though PrEP services was not available at any of the facilities where the respondents were working ,the approved drugs(TDF+FTC) for PrEP were available at about 40% of the health facilities(public and private) and 15% community pharmacies in the vicinity of the respondents . Only 60% of the respondents were willing to access PrEP service for themselves if indicated while 35% would not use such services even if it is indicated for reasons which include concern about adverse effects and safety.Awareness of PrEP was significantly associated with the ability of the healthcare workers to identify the correct ARV regimen, ARV dosages and also correct indication for PrEP. Awareness was also associated with the knowledge of the correct proven efficacy for PrEP(>95%) and high likelihood of seeing a patient placed on PrEP and willingness to use PrEP based on personal indication Conclusion: The level of awareness of PrEP among healthcare workers was very high at about 90% yet many(60%) could not give correct standard definitions of PrEP, PrEP ARV regimen, dosages and level of efficacy of PrEP. Also none of the respondent had PrEP services available either at their center or any known referral centers. This is unacceptable in a country with second highest HIV burden in the world and has adopted PrEP in her national HIV guideline with ongoing PrEP demonstration studies. The few healthcare workers who were able to mentioned this information were more likely to have seen a patient placed on PrEP and were more willing to use PrEP based on personal indication. Recommendations: There is need to deepen the and knowledge of PrEP among healthcare workers especially those in poor resource settings by engaging them through update courses outreach, educational resources, campaigns/seminars and workshops and various job aids. All healthcare service providers should be very comfortable to carry out HIV risk assessment of their clients and provide PrEP to those indicated directly or indirectly through referral

Health Care Providers Perception and Practice of HIV Disclosure to Sero-Positive Children and Adolescents in a Tertiary Health Facility in Abuja, Nigeria

Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-18-2202

Background: Ideally, disclosure of HIV status to infected children and adolescents should involve both health care workers and parents/caregivers. Most studies on disclosure in children have focus mainly on parents/caregivers with little information on health care workers. We conduct this study to evaluate the practice, perception of the healthcare workers in our health facility on disclosure to infected children and adolescents. It is envisaged that such information will help in the design of better strategies on disclosure in our environment. Methods: A cross sectional hospital based study was conducted among health care workers at the special treatment clinic, and heart to heart unit of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada from January to March 2017 for the above objective. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on disclosure among the healthcare workers, which include among others: their bio-data, knowledge, perception, and practice on disclosure in the two service areas of the hospital. Results: Of the 80 health care workers interviewed, 60(75.0%) were females, 11(13.8%) were doctors, 9(11.3%) nurses, 17(21.3%) monitoring/evaluation/record clerks, and 16(20.0%) were either voluntary counseling and testing counselors or adherence counselors. Their mean age and duration in service in the two areas were 39.70±7.10 and 7.93±4.99 years respectively. Over half 48(60.0%) of the health care workers were unaware of the hospital having guideline on disclosure, 64(80.0%) have not been trained, and 68(85.0%) does not know any key information on disclosure. While all 80(100%) felt that disclosure was a good practice for better adherence, only 16(20.0%) had actually disclosed, with 6(37.5%) not seeking any formal permission from parent/caregivers before disclosing. Ages 8-16 years was recommended by 60(75%) as the appropriate age to disclose, however 28(35.0%) recommended age 14-16 years. Over half of the respondents 58(72.5%) admitted that disclosure should be a shared responsibility between themselves and the caregivers, most however perceive their role as only preparing the parents/caregivers for disclosure, and providing ongoing counseling to both the parents/caregivers and the children and adolescents. Lack of training on disclosure, and none availability of guideline in the health institution were major setback on the ability of the healthcare providers to fully participate in disclosure process. Conclusion: While healthcare providers support the idea of disclosing at mid and late adolescent, their perceived role was that of support and provision of ongoing counseling. Lack of training and none availability of disclosure guideline affects their perceived role. There is need to train and retrain healthcare workers on disclosure guideline, and making such guideline available in the health facilities.

Human Health Research Open Access

An Urgent Human Health Dilemma Facing Refugees and their Host Caregivers?

May 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9383.jhhr-18-2111

The continuous waves of refugees from Africa and the Middle East to Europe present major inter¬cultural challenges to European health professionals and to society at large. A recent workshop in Sicily brought together local physicians, nurses, psychologists and managers of governmental agencies, along with representatives from Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Tunisia, Jordan and the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) to develop training programs aimed at formulating dialogue between regional professionals and refugees. A major barrier refugees face is a lack of verbal and cultural communication, which hinders their smooth absorption into the new society. Cultural mediators who speak Arabic and Italian and understand the refugees' faith, tradition and beliefs are vital to successfully build bridges of trust between caregivers and refugees. Most asylum seekers experience anxiety, fear, and depression upon arrival in Europe. To achieve trust, all workshop participants agreed to develop a palliative care model that would best suit the unique circumstances now facing some Mediterranean countries and assist in overcoming the suffering of refugees during their initial stay in Europe. Such a model would include bio-psychosocial elements, essential for a culturally sensitive approach and based on core ethical principles.

Improving Confidence in Obstetric Skills with Basic and Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics® Training in Ethiopia: A Pre/post Study

Jun 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-14-622

Basic Life Support in Obstetrics (BLSO®) is a novel, simulation-based, emergency obstetrics training program for health care workers who perform deliveries infrequently, such as paramedics and nurses. Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO®) is intended for regular maternity care providers such as physicians and certified nurse midwives. This paper describes a pre/post study of 111 learners in two ALSO and two BLSO courses taught in Addis Ababa, Bonga, and Jimma, Ethiopia in October, 2012. The study objective was to assess the effectiveness of ALSO and BLSO training programs to improve Ethiopian health care workers’ confidence in managing common obstetrical problems. A previously-validated survey tool was given immediately pre- and post-course and six months post-course. The survey tool included demographic questions and Likert scales to self-assess comfort managing 13 common obstetric emergencies including postpartum hemorrhage, maternal resuscitation, and preeclampsia. Ninety-seven ALSO and BLSO learners completed pre- and immediate post-training questionnaires. Nineteen ALSO learners completed the 6 month post-training questionnaire. Immediately post-course, participants in ALSO and BLSO courses reported increased comfort in all 13 areas assessed. ALSO participants had increased comfort at 6 months in all areas except breech delivery. Participation in a novel emergency obstetrics training program increases Ethiopian health workers’ self-assessed confidence in addressing common obstetrical emergencies. This increase in confidence persists in most topic areas for at least six months. This paper describes the first formal evaluation of BLSO and contributes to the growing body of evidence regarding the value of ALSO training in a low- and middle-income country.

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