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A perinatal continuing education program: its effects on the knowledge and practices of health professionals.

OBJECTIVES
To determine whether there was an increase in knowledge when an interdisciplinary group of health care providers participated in the same comprehensive perinatal continuing education program and to determine whether care practices followed before the program differed from those followed 1 year after its completion.


DESIGN
Administration of a 100-item comprehensive pretest and a similar posttest measuring knowledge before the continuing education program and 1 year after taking it, as well as an ex post facto audit of medical records of newborns who were sick and at risk.


SETTING
Hospitals throughout the state of Oklahoma that provide perinatal care. Test data were derived from health care providers in 24 hospitals; data on care practices were obtained from 12 hospitals.


INTERVENTION
A comprehensive program of perinatal continuing education.


PARTICIPANTS
Physicians, nurses, and other providers of perinatal health care.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Scores on a 100-item test measuring knowledge of perinatal care and newborn care practices taught in the educational program.


RESULTS
Pretest and posttest scores demonstrated an increase in scores at the p < 0.001 level for each group of providers studied. There was a statistically significant increase in use of two care practices and a definite trend toward an increase in the use of three others.


CONCLUSION
A continuing education program delivered to a multidisciplinary group of health care providers can increase knowledge and improve perinatal care to newborns who are sick and at risk.