Training needs assessment for practicing pediatric critical care nurses in Malawi to inform the development of a specialized master\u2019s education pathway: a cohort study

Kelsey Renning,Netsayi Gowero,Brittney Van De Water,Chisomo Kasitomu,Shelley Brandstetter,Miriam Simbota,Maureen Majamanda

doi:10.1186/s12912-021-00772-3

Abstract

BackgroundSignificant improvements in under-five mortality in Malawi have been demonstrated over the past thirty years; however, Malawian healthcare remains with gaps in availability and access to quality pediatric critical care nursing training and education. To improve expertise of pediatric critical care nurses in Malawi, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), and Mercy James Center (MJC) entered a partnership with Seed Global Health, a US non-governmental organization. A needs assessment was conducted to understand the training needs of nurses currently working in pediatric critical care and in preparation for the development of a specialized Master’s in Child Health pathway in Pediatric Critical Care (PCC) Nursing at KUHeS.MethodsThe needs assessment was completed using a survey questionnaire formatted using an ABCDE (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure) framework. The questionnaire had Likert scale and yes/no questions. Data was manually entered into excel and was analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsOne hundred and fifty-three nurses at QECH and MJC responded to the survey. Most nurses were between the ages of 25 and 35 years (N = 98, 64%), female (N = 105, 69%), and held either a Bachelors (N = 72, 47%) or diploma (N = 70, 46%) in nursing. Nurses had high rates of confidence in certain skills: airway management (N = 120, 99%), breathing assessment & management (N = 153, 100%). However, nurses demonstrated little to no confidence in areas such as: mechanical ventilation (N = 68, 44%), ECG evaluation (N = 74, 48%), and arterial blood gas collection & interpretation (N = 49, 32%).ConclusionIt is important to identify priority areas for training and skills development to address in the PCC master’s within the child health pathway at KUHeS. Ideally this partnership will produce practice-ready PCC nurses and will establish a recognized PCC nursing workforce in Malawi.

Highlights

Significant improvements in under-five mortality in Malawi have been demonstrated over the past thirty years; Malawian healthcare remains with gaps in availability and access to quality pediatric critical care nursing training and education
Malawi is one of the few countries that met the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015 due to improvements in childbirth and the prevention and treatment of diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and HIV [3]. Following this accomplishment came the establishment of the agenda for 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim at further reducing deaths in the under-five population [4]
The questionnaire was completed by 153 practicing nurses (153/165, 92.7% response rate). 77% of nurses were under the age of 35 (N = 118), 69% were female (N = 105), 75% were permanent employees (N = 115), 93% worked in pediatrics (142), 46% held a diploma (N = 70), and 47% held a bachelor’s degree (N = 72)

Summary

Introduction

Significant improvements in under-five mortality in Malawi have been demonstrated over the past thirty years; Malawian healthcare remains with gaps in availability and access to quality pediatric critical care nursing training and education. Malawi is one of the few countries that met the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015 due to improvements in childbirth and the prevention and treatment of diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, and HIV [3]. Following this accomplishment came the establishment of the agenda for 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which aim at further reducing deaths in the under-five population [4]. These strategies and programs include family planning, access to Skilled Birth Attendants, youth health services, and training health professionals in Helping Babies Breathe (a simulation-based educational program to teach neonatal resuscitation in low-resource settings) [5, 6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion