Practice, Experiences, and Facilitators of Simulation-Based Training During One Year of Implementation in 30 Hospitals in Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION

Enhancing the proficiency of healthcare workers (HCWs) in handling birth-related complications is crucial for reducing maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. To achieve this, the Safer Births Bundle of Care offers a comprehensive set of innovative, simulation-based training interventions designed to strengthen the skills and competencies of HCWs working as skilled birth attendants.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the use of low-dose, high-frequency simulation-based training, and the experiences of this usage among HCWs and stakeholders at facilities in Tanzania.

METHODS

This mixed-methods study included quantitative and qualitative data collected between July 2021 and July 2022 across 30 health facilities in five regions of Tanzania. NeoNatalie Live (NNL) simulators were installed for independent skills and scenario training, and facilitator-led team simulations were introduced. The training frequency was analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics, and mentorship and supervision reports were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

A large and sustained number of NNL skill-training sessions ( = 35,101) and facilitator-led team simulations ( = 266) were conducted during the first year. Clinical burden per HCW did not affect the frequency of NNL skills training at the health facility level ( = -0.16,  = .40) nor facilitator-led team simulations. There was a positive but weak correlation between the frequency of facilitator-led team simulations and NNL skills training ( = 0.34,  = .05). Qualitative data showed a high degree of motivation and participation among all stakeholders, and active use of hospital data, both clinical indicators and training data, was perceived as a success factor.

CONCLUSION

Facilitator-led simulation training was more likely to occur where individual skills-training sessions were recorded. Training sessions took place regardless of the increased workload.