Pre-eclampsia training needs of midwives in a Ghanaian tertiary hospital: A cross-sectional study

• Published in: Nurse education in practice 2024-02, Vol.75, p.103872-103872, Article 103872
• Main Authors: Garti, Isabella, Gray, Michelle, Bromley, Angela, Tan, Jing-Yu (Benjamin)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attrition (Research Studies); Clinical research; Clinical skills; Clinical training; Competence; Confidence intervals; Continuing professional development; Councils; Curricula; Eclampsia; Educational Facilities Improvement; Educational Needs; Evidence Based Practice; Evidence-based nursing; Females; Guidelines; Health education; Health Personnel; Health promotion; Health Services; Hospitals; Labor Force Development; Licensing Examinations (Professions); Low income groups; Maternal & child health; Maternal mortality; Midwifery; Midwifery education; Midwives; Mortality Rate; Needs assessment; Nursing; Nursing education; Obstetrics; Pre-eclampsia; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Prenatal care; Private Colleges; Productivity; Professional development; Professional Identity; Quality of care; Quantitative psychology; Questionnaires; Research Methodology; Research Skills; Secondary Schools; Self-reported; Skills; Teaching Methods; Tertiary Care Centres; Training needs; Training needs assessment; Vocational Education; Well being; Womens health; Workforce
• ISSN: 1471-5953; 1873-5223
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2024.103872

This study aimed to assess the specific clinical and non-clinical training needs of midwives and determine their preferred approach to enhancing performance. Pre-eclampsia remains one of the leading causes of maternal deaths in low and middle-income countries. Pre-eclampsia-related deaths may be due to reduced midwifery knowledge and inadequate management. Therefore, a training needs assessment is vital in identifying gaps in practice, especially, in poorly resourced settings for maximal use of training resources. A hospital-based cross-sectional study. The largest tertiary hospital in Ghana. An online version of the validated WHO Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Analysis questionnaire was used to assess midwives’ training needs on the management of pre-eclampsia. The tool has good psychometric properties and was used to assess 1) midwives’ confidence in performing tasks, 2) the importance of the task to their role and 3) their preferred performance improvement approach. Data analysis adhered to the guidelines specified in the Hennessy-Hicks Training Needs Analysis Questionnaire and the priority training requirements of the midwives were assessed through descriptive statistics and a series of independent t-tests. Among the 250 midwives who responded, most possessed 1–5 years of experience (74.7 %). All 28 tasks were viewed by midwives as essential responsibilities in pre-eclampsia management. Midwives had the greatest need for training in research/audit and clinical skills domains respectively (p < 0.001, 95 % confidence interval: 1.08–1.47, Cohen’s-D = 1.27; and p < 0.001, 95 % confidence interval: 0.69–1.06, Cohen’s-D = 0.87). The foremost primary training necessity, as recognised by midwives, was undertaking health promotion activities, including antenatal health education (MD= 0.43, 95 % confidence interval: 0.29–0.57). Training courses were identified as the preferred approach to address training needs and improve overall proficiency. Midwives in Ghana require comprehensive training covering research and clinical-based competencies to improve pre-eclampsia management. Considering the pivotal role of Ghanaian midwives in safeguarding maternal well-being, there is a compelling need to enhance the calibre of midwifery services. These findings can guide stakeholders in countries with comparable healthcare contexts in creating effective, resource-efficient training programs that avoid counterproductivity, ultimately supporting national initiatives to enhance