Comparison of Virtual Training to In-Person Training of Helping Babies Breathe in Ethiopia

Comparison of Virtual Training to In-Person Training of Helping Babies Breathe in Ethiopia

Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) is a program that teaches providers in low- and middle-income countries about neonatal resuscitation. Historically, HBB training was delivered in person. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many subject matter experts were unable to travel to conduct HBB courses. Innovative methods for teaching HBB are needed to promote the acquisition and retention of resuscitation skills and knowledge.

In this non-inferiority randomized controlled trial, medical students, nursing students, and midwifery students will be randomized to receive either standard in-person HBB training (control) or virtual telesimulation training (intervention). The hypothesis is that virtual delivery is as effective as in-person training of HBB content when teaching neonatal resuscitation skills and knowledge to medical, nursing, and midwifery students.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults
• Year IV through year VI medical students, year II to IV nursing students, year II and III midwifery students at Jimma University in Jimma, Ethiopia.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Minors
• Individuals who are not medical students, nursing students, or midwifery students at Jimma University.
• Individuals who attended a neonatal resuscitation training course in the preceding year.
• Individuals who would be unavailable or unwilling to participate in follow-up study activities throughout the 2-month post-initial training period.