Shoulder dystocia simulation training: programme implementation and professional perceptions.
Abstract
Objective: To describe implementation and professional appraisal of a shoulder dystocia simulation programme, focusing on perceived preparedness, usefulness and satisfaction. Methods: A descriptive observational study evaluated six activities at a tertiary university hospital in northern Spain (2019-2025), with 130 accumulated attendances and 126 post-training questionnaires, not necessarily unique respondents. Two preparedness questions and 14 unvalidated Likert items were described. Both preparedness responses were collected after attendance; the baseline relied on recall. Historical neonatal outcomes were secondary and exploratory. Results: Questionnaires comprised 93 specialist, 27 midwife and six resident responses. Preparedness was reported in 55/126 questionnaires (43.7%) for the recalled baseline and 113/126 (89.7%) after training. Favourable Likert responses ranged from 87.3% to 100%; overall satisfaction was 98.4%. All midwife attendances occurred in May 2023. Among recorded shoulder dystocia cases, obstetric brachial plexus palsy occurred in 8/78 (10.3%) in 2016-2018 and 13/268 (4.9%) in 2019-2025 (risk ratio 0.47; 95% confidence interval 0.20-1.10). Conclusions: Responses show favourable professional appraisal and higher reported preparedness after attendance. They do not establish objective competence, retention or behavioural transfer. Historical clinical differences cannot be attributed to training.
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References
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