Effect of Educational Intervention on Implementation of Neonatal Safety Standards

Abstract

Background and Aim Patient safety in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is one of the highest priority issues on the health care quality agenda worldwide. Efforts are needed to improve neonatal safety in NICU. The present study evaluated the effect of educational intervention on neonatal safety. Materials and Methods Quasi-experimental study was conducted in three major hospitals, including the health care workers in their NICU during the period of study from May 2016 to May 2018. Neonatal safety standards were evaluated using an observational checklist after its validation by a pilot study. An intervention educational program was conducted in the three hospitals, followed by a reevaluation of the standards. All staff members (58 physicians and 69 nurses) participated in the three stages of the study. Results The interventional program resulted in significant improvement of the health care workers implementation of the general (90.6 ± 15.1 vs. 127.6 ± 7.02, p = 0.016) and specific (50.6 ± 17.1 vs. 96.1 ± 13.2, p = 0.04) Egyptian Neonatal Safety Standards. Conclusion Training and increasing the awareness of health care workers of the neonatal safety standards can significantly increase the fulfilment of these standards in both secondary and tertiary care neonatal units.